That corruption remains a major problem in Nigeria hardly do justice to the efforts being made to tackle the malaise. Perhaps those who have had the opportunity of working closely with the anti- corruption agencies can truly appreciate the efforts and sacrifices of the officers who daily toil to tackle a malaise that has become virulent, undermining the nation’s economic health.
In deed former attorney general and minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi was spot on, when he remarked recently at an awards ceremony organized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that “The men and women that the nation shall remember are those like you who are serving selflessly and honestly. The men and women that the world has immortalized are not those who sacrificed others, but those who sacrificed themselves”,
The sacrifices which officers of the EFCC have made for their country can be better appreciated through a dispassionate appraisal of the activities of the anti- graft agency in the last few years, under Ibrahim Lamorde as executive chairman.
Not many Nigerian would have forgotten the public profile of the agency before Lamorde took the reins. Integrity was a major issue and development partners, including leading international law enforcement agencies were reluctant to relate with the agency. That era seemed consigned to the dust bin of history.
Lamorde has succeeded in restoring the credibility of the agency through a carefully designed programme of re-professionalization that set new benchmark for professional and ethical conduct among officers and men. It is remarkable that in the last few years, allegations of corruption among EFCC staff has reduced. Even more heartwarming is the fact that not a single case initiated by the Commission under Lamorde’s watch has been thrown out by any court in Nigeria for lack of evidence or proper investigation.
The emphasis on professionalism meant that the Commission had to set new ways of doing things, and those who could not recognize this paradigm shift misinterpreted it for inaction. Those who for instance were enamored of dramatized arrests and media trials perhaps felt, erroneously, that the Commission had gone to sleep. Far from it. As with most reforms, it takes a while before the gains becomes manifest to all, especially cynics.
Now, it is easy to count the gains. A year ago, the agency announced that it recorded 117 convictions in 2013. That certainly was a feat in the light of the shenanigans that goes on in the Nigerian Judicial system. But if any one thought that was a fluke, the report coming out from the agency indicate that it surpassed the 2013 record in 2014 as it garnered 126 convictions last year. That, to all intent and purposes is a healthy progression that should be applauded. Obviously, there is something that the EFCC under Lamorde has gotten right with investigation and prosecution of cases.
Bulk Cash Smuggling
Just as the Commission is breaking new grounds with convictions, its profile in recovery of assets have also improved. The Commission in its annual report submitted yearly to the National Assembly, disclosed that in 2011, it recoveredN9, 755,924,635.69 . The figures for 2012 was given as N41, 548, 665,730.69; $1,520,410.00. That of 2013 was listed as N11, 276,108,536.81; $2,190,127.00; 45,585.00 Pounds and 7,090.00 Euros.
The Commission also opened a new frontier in terms of blocking avenues for resource hemorrhage, by reining in unscrupulous persons engaged in the nefarious act of moving bulk cash out of the country without declaring them to the Nigeria Customs Service. A son of one of the state governors, Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Aminu Lamido was arrested in the process, prosecuted and convicted.
Below is summary of cash couriers arrested and prosecuted by the Commission between September and December 2012;
1. Abubakar Sherriff Tijjani, a suspected bulk cash smuggler was intercepted by the Operatives of the EFCC, on Thursday, September 27, 2012, carrying $7,049.444 ( Seven million, Forty Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty Four United States Dollars) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos en route to Dubai , United Arab Emirates .
2. Alhaji Tasiu Ilu Kura was on Sunday, September 30, 2012 arrested by operatives of the Commission with $700,000(about N112m) at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano. The suspect who hails from Kura Local Government in Kano State, was arrested en route Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
3. Idris Hamza was arrested on Wednesday October 17, 2012, with Twenty Seven Thousand US Dollars($27,000.00) at the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano. He only declared Three Thousand dollars ($3,000.00),
4. Umar Musa Kibiya was on Wednesday October 17, 2012, arrested at the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, for false declaration of fund and illegal possession of Eighty Thousand US Dollars ($80,000) concealed in his bag. He only declared Forty Thousand US Dollars ($40,000.00).
5. Adetula Akinyele, a security guard with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN; and one Ifeanyi Uramah and Emmanuel Nnanna were intercepted by operatives of the EFCC on Saturday, 21 October, 2012 with $1.4million ( One Million, Four Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport , Lagos .
6. Hyginus Ezedimbu was apprehended at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on November 3 as he prepared to board an Ethiopian Airline flight on his way to China. He was caught with $50,000 (Fifty thousand dollars) but he declared $49,971.
7. Abdulrasheed Ibrahim was arrested on Wednesday November 7 as he prepared to board a Dubai, United Arab Emirates bound Ethiopian Airline. A total of $188,858 (one hundred and eighty eight thousand, eight hundred and fifty eight United States dollars) was found on him. He had declared the sum of forty five thousand USD ($45,000) only for a search on him to reveal additional $143, 858.
8. Talal Hammoud and Hassan Rmaiti: Three bags containing the sum of $2, 073, 160 ( two million, seventy three thousand, one hundred and sixty dollars)was seized from Talal Hammoud with passport number and AO3599105
and Hassan Rmaiti SAR20,300 at the “E” Wing departure area of the MMIA, Lagos on
9. Onwuekwe Anthony Chidi was apprehended at the MMIA, Lagos, on November 22 aboard a Qatar Airways flight bound for Doha, in the Gulf region with the sum of $320,000.
10. Mrs. Hassan Ganiyat Oloruntoyin was intercepted on September 27, at the MMIA, Lagos with $270,000
11. Mr. Oteh Prince Emenike, was arrested on September 27, at the MMIA, Lagos with $1, 040,000
12. Mr Osewingie Billy was on October 26 arrested with $599,200.
13. Chukwuonu Nnaemeka John was on November 7 arrested with $137, 435. He declared $70,000.
14. Igweadianu John Chinedu was on October 3 arrested with $283,000 due to his failure to explain the source, ownership and purpose of the fund
15. Eldest Son of Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Alhaji Aminu Sule, was arrested at Aminu Kano International Airport at about 12.30 am on his way to Cairo, Egypt by operatives of the EFCC on Wednesday, December 12, 2012,over money laundering allegations. He was arrested as he prepared to board an Egypt Air flight to Cairo. The governor’s son only declared $10,000 as all that was in his possession to the Nigerian Customs at the airport, but a physical search by operatives of the EFCC found he had tucked away another $40,000, totaling $50,000.
He was prosecuted and convicted by court
Trial of Ex- Governors/ Politically Exposed Persons
Under Lamorde’s watch, the Commission has vigorously pursued the trial of former state governors and other politically exposed persons accused of corruption. Cases involving Saminu Turaki, ex- governor of Jigawa state; Chimaroke Nnamani, former governor of Enugu State; Rashidi Ladoja, former governor of Oyo State; Alao Akala, former governor of Oyo State; Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia state; Athahiru Bafarawa, former governor of Sokoto State; Akwe Doma, former governor of Nasarawa State; Gbenga Daniel, former governor of Oguns State; Joshua Dariye, former governor of Plateau State; Abdullahi Adamu, former governor of Nasarawa state; Danjuma Goje, former governor of Gombe state; Timipre Sylva, former governor of Bayelsa State and Abubakar Audu, former governor of Kogi State are on-going in courts across the country.
Convicted former governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion was re-arraigned on fresh charges before a Federal High Court, Benin over a N25billion scam. Trial has reached the stage of final addresses by counsel.
Apart from that, the Commission took steps to seize some of his alleged proceeds of crime, through an interim forfeiture order by Justice A. R Mohammed of the Federal High Court Abuja on December 28, 2012
Assets belonging to the former governor against which the order was sought and granted included those at numbers 3 River Niger Street, plot 3192 Cadastral zone AO Maitama District Abuja; 8 Niamey Street Wuse zone 2, plot 262 Cadastral zone AO2, Wuse Abuja; 5 Oguta Street, plot 906 Cadastral zone Wuse 11 Abuja.
Others were 8 Mistrata Street plot 232 Cadastral zone Wuse 11 Abuja; Plot No 1070 Dakibiyu District Cadastral zone B10 Abuja; Plot 1271 Nike Street Cadastral zone AO5 Maitama District Abuja; Phase 1 Unit No 1 (Villa 1) Palm Springs Gold Estate, Cachez Turkey Projects Limited, Mpape, Abuja. Plot 1181 Thaba Tseka Crescent, off IBB Way, British Village, Wuse 11 Abuja and 1 Mubi Close, Plot 766 Cadastral zone AO1 Garki 1 Abuja.
Other politically exposed persons that were investigated and are currently being prosecuted by the EFCC under Lamorde include directors of the Ondo state Oil Producing Areas Development Commission. Debo Ajimuda, chairman of the Commission and four other officials: Mann Omobayi Alli, Ikuomola Vincent, Aghone, Mofolabomi Monday and Olayinka Olaitan Joseph are being prosecuted before a Federal High Court, Akure on 13-counts of fraud, embezzlement and conspiracy to defraud the state of N540million.
In neighbouring Edo State, the quartet of Joseph Sule Emoabino, David Eson Igbinoba, Agbator Gaskin Efe and Dr. Simon Imuekeme were arraigned before Justice Esther Edigin of the Edo State High Court, Benin City on an 8-count charge bordering on diversion of N113 million. The quartet who were chairman, secretary, director of Finance and Accounts of the State Universal Basic Education Board and Secretary to Edo State Government respectively are alleged to have fraudulently diverted the said sum to a project not covered by the intervention funds allocated by the State Universal Basic Education
In April 2014, the Commission’s dragnet spread to Sokoto State, as Mohammed Bello Abubakar and Abubakar Abdullahi Ahmed, permanent secretary and deputy director, Ministry for Local Government and Community Development, were arraigned by the EFCC.
The duo are being prosecuted on a 43-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and money laundering . Also in neighboring Kebbi State, the Commission docked the Accountant General, Alhaji Mohammed Arzika Dakingari, and Musa Yusuf, Managing Director, Beal Construction Nigeria Limited, before Justice Sabiu Bala of Kebbi State High Court, Birnin-Kebbi on a 20-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and abuse of office
Dakingari’s counterpart in Taraba State, Joel Joseph Lenbang, was equally ensnared by the anti graft agency and faces multiple charges of stealing and money laundering to the tune of N1.56billion
On July 3, 2014 at Asaba, the administrative capital of Delta State, the Commission arraigned the former executive secretary of Delta State Scholarship Board, Peter Amromanoh and the chief accountant, Eloho Otiede before Justice C. O Emifoniye of the Delta State High Court, Asaba on a 5-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing. Amromanoh is alleged to have abused his office by approving a sum of N36m (Thirty-Six Million Naira) which is above his official approval limit of N1million.
James Ibori
Also the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Limited. Chief Wale Babalakin was arrested and docked on money laundering allegations. Babalakin, Alex Okoh and three companies: Stabilini Visioni Limited, Bi-Courtney Limited and Renix Nigeria Limited are alleged to have between May 2006 and December 2006 corruptly conferred benefits on former Governor of Delta State, James Onanefe Ibori on account of contracts awarded by Delta State government to Stabilini Visioni Limited by transferring the monies through third parties to Erin Aviation account in Mauritius for the purchase of Challenger Jet Aircraft by the said James Ibori. Trial is on- going.
Also the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Limited. Chief Wale Babalakin was arrested and docked on money laundering allegations. Babalakin, Alex Okoh and three companies: Stabilini Visioni Limited, Bi-Courtney Limited and Renix Nigeria Limited are alleged to have between May 2006 and December 2006 corruptly conferred benefits on former Governor of Delta State, James Onanefe Ibori on account of contracts awarded by Delta State government to Stabilini Visioni Limited by transferring the monies through third parties to Erin Aviation account in Mauritius for the purchase of Challenger Jet Aircraft by the said James Ibori. Trial is on- going.
The Commission under Lamorde successfully appealed the ruling of Justice Marcel Awokulehin that quashed all 170-count money laundering charge against James Ibori. The Court of Appeal in Benin in May, ruled that the Awokulehin erred in the ruling and ordered that the matter be reassigned. This invariably means that Ibori will be tried in Nigeria upon completion of his jail term in the United Kingdom.
Still on the matter of Ibori, under Lamorde’s watch, the EFCC initiated a process that eventually culminated in the ruling by a Federal High Court , Abuja ceding ownership of the controversial $15m Ibori bribe money to the Federal Government after a legal battle that pitted the Commission against the Delta State Government which belatedly claimed ownership of the fund.
A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, was on Thursday February 16, 2012, re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 47-count charge bordering on money laundering of over N500 million and accepting and concealing cash payments of about N230 million. Though the trial court recently acquitted the accused person on some of the counts in the charge, trial is still on going on two counts .
A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, was on Thursday February 16, 2012, re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 47-count charge bordering on money laundering of over N500 million and accepting and concealing cash payments of about N230 million. Though the trial court recently acquitted the accused person on some of the counts in the charge, trial is still on going on two counts .
Pension Scam
One areas where far reaching impact has been made by the Lamorde- led EFCC is in checking the malfeasance in pension administration in Nigeria. Before his coming to the saddle, pension administration in Nigeria was a cesspool of corruption. Many public servants who served the country meritoriously were consigned to a life of destitution upon retirement, no thanks to the activities of a cabal that turned pension administration to veritable gold mine.
To a considerable extent, sanity has been restored to the system, no thanks to vigorous law enforcement activities of the EFCC, which resulted in the arrest and prosecution of senior officials of both Police Pension and the Pension office in the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
Among those being prosecuted in connection with the N10billion scam in the Pension office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation are Dr Shuaibu Sani Teidi, a former director of pension account; Omoefe Eric Uduesegbe, Aliyu Bello and Abdullahi Omeiza. They are being prosecuted for defrauding the pension office to the tune of N10, 080, 006, 276.00 (Over Ten Billion Naira).
The schedule of properties/assets of Dr. Teidi which the court ordered taken over by the EFCC are: (a) No 24, Ahmadu Musa Crescent, Jabi, Abuja; ( b) Brefina Hotel at plot 1106, (Beside MTN) warehouse, adjacent to vines Hotel, Durumi, Abuja; (c) A house at No 1, Shuaibu close, opposite Governor’s House, Idah; (d). Riba-ile petroleum limited; (e) M.R.S Ajaka (registered as Riba-Ile oil Limited; (f)M.R.S Idah station, Idah, registered with Hammo oil, Nigeria; (g) NNPC Mega station, Idah junction, Ayingba, registered with Hammo oil Nigeria Limited, (h)M.R.S Filling Station at Ganaja, Lokoja; (I)Registered with A.Y Ted oil Limited;( j) A mansion at Idah, opposite Federal Polytechnic, Idah; (k). SunTrust Properties company Limited; (l) Plot B59, Dawaki Extension layout, Bwari Area council, Abuja; (m) An Estate of about 10 bungalows, lying and being at Dantata Street, Nyanyan, FCT, Abuja.
Dr. Shuaibu, Mrs. Phina Ukamaka Chidi and 30 other suspects are facing trial on charges bordering on diversion of pension funds, abuse of office, using ghost pensioners to pay money into their accounts monthly and diversion of the same amount through award of fictitious contracts to companies which they manage. Ukamaka Chidi is a former Deputy Director (Finance and Accounts), in the pension office while Aliyu Bello was a Personal Assistant to Dr. Shuaibu.
Other accused persons are Garba Abdullahi Tahir, Emmanuel Olanipekun, Abdullahi Omeiza, Computer Plaza and Essential gadget Ventures. Others are Mobis Point Investment Limited, Obista Enterprises, Shallow Well Ventures, Mof Investment Ltd, Zumba Resources, Pam Investment and Properties Llimited, Moshfad Enterprises, Newgate Projects Limited, RedWings Energy Limited, RedWing Procurement Services Limitedd, Woodland Industries Nigeria Limited.
Others are Nwab Tessy O Enterprises Nigeria, Chris J. Junior Ventures, Uthaka Nigeria Ltd, Bashinta Nigeria limited, Haleath Enterprises, Gozinda Enterprises, Omozua Ventures, S.S Badejo Enterprises, Lopee ventures, Fafama Oil and gas Limited, Fafama Estate Developer Limited and Riba-Ile Petroleum
In the course of prosecuting Shauibu, the Commission secured the final forfeiture of Brifina Hotels to the Federal government. The hotel which is valued at over a billion naira is among properties that were acquired by the former Pensions Director from proceeds of crime. But he denied ownership of the property against claims by the original owner that he sold the property to Teidi.
Another set of public officials are equally being prosecuted by the EFCC in connection with N32.8billion fraud in the Police Pension office. They include Esai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, John Yakubu Yusufu, Mrs. Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula and Sani Habila Zira. Kigo was the director of the Police Pension Office, before he was made permanent secretary.
The six persons were initially (on 3rd April, 2012), arraigned on a 16 count criminal charges bordering on conspiracy and criminal breach of trust before Justice Mohammed Talba of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Gudu, Abuja. One of them, Yakubu Yusufu was eventually convicted and sentenced to two and half years imprisonment with an option of fine after he pleaded guilty to an amended charge. He has however been re-arraigned on a fresh charge.
Other accused persons in the police pension fraud are still being prosecuted even though the Commission has successfully secured the interim seizure of some of their properties.
Fuel Subsidy Investigation
The investigation leading to the trial of persons and organisations indicted in the mindless abuse of the Petroleum Support Fund in the guise of subsidy for imported fuel formed the bulk of the economic and financial crimes cases successfully charged to court by the EFCC in 2012 and 2013. The arraignment of fuel subsidy scammers commenced on Thursday, July 26, 2012, parading the likes of Mahmud Tukur, Ochonogor Alex, Abdulai Alao and Eterna Oil and Gas Ltd, Nasaman Oil Services, Mamman Nasir Ali and Christian Taylor.
While Tukur, Alex, Alao and Eternal Oil were arraigned before Justice Habeeb Abiru, then of the Lagos High Court the trio of Nasaman Oil Services, Ali and Taylor were arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of Lagos High Court, Ikeja. They were arraigned in two separate charges bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and use of false documents.
They were also alleged, among others, to have on February 4, 2011 by false pretence and with intent to defraud obtained from the Federal Government of Nigeria the sum of N986, 154, 970. 41 purporting to be subsidy payable to integrated Resources Limited by the Federal Government under the Petroleum Support Fund in respect of 19, 347, 753 litres of PMS which they falsely claimed to have imported into Nigeria.
The duo of Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and Habila Theck and their company, Fargo Energy Limited accused of swindling the Federal Government to the tune of N979, 653,110.28, were arraigned by the EFCC on July 26, 2012, at an Ikeja High Court on a six count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence, forgery and using forged documents to defraud the government. They allegedly conspired to fraudulently obtain the sum by falsely representing that the said sum represented subsidy accruing on importation of 13,627,084 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) purportedly purchased from Sealac Petroleun Limited and imported into Nigeria through MT Diplomat and MT Milleura.
Ogunbambo who has since fled Nigeria, is on the Commission’s watch list.
The EFCC, on Wednesday, August 1, 2012, arraigned five more suspects implicated in the fuel subsidy scam before Justice Habeeb Abiru, then of the Lagos High Court, sitting in Lagos. The five suspects – Walter Wagbatsoma, Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi; Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer; Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele and Ontario Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited – were charged with obtaining property by false pretences, uttering, forgery and conspiracy.
Similarly, Abdullahi Alao together with his company, Axenergy Limited were arraigned before Justice Habeeb Abiru, then of the Lagos State High court sitting in Ikeja. The accused, alongside Axenergy Limited allegedly obtained the sum of N2,640, 141, 707.75 ( Two Billion, Six Hundred and Forty Million; One Hundred and Forty One Thousand; Seven Hundred and Seven Naira, Seventy Five Kobo only) being payments obtained from the Petroleum Support Fund for the purported importation of 33.3 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
Also, the EFCC, on Friday, October 5, 2012 arraigned thirteen suspects implicated in a fresh N3.7billion fuel subsidy scam. The suspects comprising eight individuals and five companies were arraigned before Justices Habeeb Abiru and Lateefa Okunnu of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja. The individuals involved are Samuel Bamidele, Abiodun Kayode Bankole, Ifeanyi Anosike, Emeka Chukwu, Ngozi Ekeoma Alhaji Adamu Aliyu Maula, George Ogbonna and Emmanuel Morah.
The five companies involved are Anosyke Group of Companies Limited, Dell Energy Limited, Downstream Energy Sources Limited and Rocky Energy Limited A.S.B. Investment Company Limited, Aro Samuel Bamidele and Abiodun Kayode Bankole were arraigned before Justice Lateefa Okunnu on an 18 count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, forgery and uttering false documents to the tune of N1,341,471,735.67 (one billion, three hundred and forty one million, four hundred and seventy one thousand, seven hundred and thirty-five naira, sixty-seven kobo) being payments fraudulently received from the petroleum support fund for a purported supply of 38, 010, 413.00 litres of premium motor spirit.
Three individuals and two companies were on Wednesday October 10, 2012, arraigned before Justice Lateefa Okunnu of the Lagos High Court on a six count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretences, forgery and uttering to the tune of N1.110, 049,444. 35 (One Billion, One Hundred and Ten Million, Forty Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty-Four Naira, Thirty-Five Kobo).
The three persons and two companies were: Opeyemi Ajuyah, Abdulahi Alao and Olanrewaju Olalusi, Majope Investment Limited and Axenergy Limited. They are alleged to have conspired to obtain the money by false pretence contrary to section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Abdulahi Alao and Axenergy Limited are also standing trial before a Lagos High Court, on another seven count charge bordering on obtaining the sum of N2, 640, 141, 707.75k (Two billion, Six hundred and Forty Million; One hundred and forty one thousand; Seven hundred and seven hundred naira, seventy five kobo only) being payments obtained from the Petroleum Support Fund for the purported importation of 33.3 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
In Abuja, the EFCC, on October 29, 2012, arraigned two suspects and their companies before Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the FCT High Court, on a 17-count charge. The suspects, Saminu Rabiu and Jubril Rowaye, were arraigned alongside their two oil companies, Alminiur Resources Limited and Brila Energy Limited respectively which government alleged were used in fraudulently obtaining the sum of N1, 051, 030, 434, 63 from the Petroleum Support Fund as payment for the purported importation of 10,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS.
The cases are at various stages of trial in court.
Oil Theft and Pipeline Vandalism
The theft of Nigeria oil is a subject that is of concern to all stakeholders in the Nigerian project The Commission has a mandate to help check the incidence of oil theft by arresting and prosecuting offenders. Commendable strides have been recorded in checking this menace, of course with the assistance of sister law enforcement organizations, notably Nigerian Navy and the Army.
A few months ago two Indians Sailesh Kumar Singh, Chadrashekar Sharma were jailed, after successful prosecution by the Commission for oil theft. The duo were among 12 suspected oil thieves arrested in Brass, Bayelsa state in 2012 by the JTF with 157,822 litres of suspected stolen Crude Oil.
They are to serve 15 years imprisonment. They are among a long list of oil thieves that have been successfully prosecuted by the EFCC.
It is noteworthy that the Commission from January 2013 till date investigated 21 cases of crude oil theft. 11 tanker vessels and 16 tanker trucks were recovered, while 81 suspects have been charged to Court over the cases.
Internet Fraud
The Commission is unrelenting in its determination to stamp out internet fraud in Nigeria. Several cases were investigated and prosecuted by the EFCC in the last three years. It is not possible to list all the cases but suffice to say that internet fraud account for a significant percentage of cases investigated by the Commission within the period.
Perhaps, it will be helpful to highlight one or two cases.
First is the arraignment and conviction in Kano of one Daniel Okpara who defrauded people through a facebook account he opened in the name of the Executive Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde. He lured his victims by promising them jobs with the Commission.
There is also the case of one Olalekan Olubunmo who was arrested in Akure with hundreds of fake EFCC Invitation letters with which he extorts heads of government agencies on the pretext of assisting to stop phantom EFCC investigation.
Also, two young men, Nnanna Kalu, 26 and Ukaegbu Arisa Oti, 27, were recently arraigned on a 28-count charge of obtaining by false pretence before a Federal High Court in Umuahia. They are members of a five man syndicate that allegedly defrauded one Michael J. Firm (a South African) of the sum of $60,000 (sixty thousand dollars) under the pretense of registering his company with the National Agency for Foods Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to enable it supply the Federal Ministry of Defence with pre-cooked meals in sachets.
Last year, the Commission arraigned at an Ibadan High Court, a suspected Internet fraudster, one Jesse Omokohwho allegedly obtained $90,000 from a 67-year-old Australian, Jette Jacobs in a romance scam. Omokoh, 28 allegedly met the lady in an online dating set and truck a relationship with a promise of marrying the woman. The Lady relocated from Australia to South Africa in November 2012, and the accused person went to meet her in Johannesburg on February 4, 2013. Unfortunately, five days later she was found dead in her apartment. Omokoh escaped and sneaked to Nigeria two days after the death of Jette, when EFCC nabbed him.
Sensitization on Money Laundering
During the period under focus, the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, SCUML, commenced the enforcement of compliance with the provisions of the Money Laundering Act 2011 by Designated Non- Financial Institutions DNFIs (hotels, real estate firms, auto dealers, audit and accounting firms, casinos, supermarkets bureau de change, law firms, etc), with the arrest of officials of seven companies in Abuja.
Section 5 of the Money Laundering Act 2011, requires existing businesses to submit, within three months from the commencement of the Act, a declaration of their activities and all record of transactions. They are equally required to file returns on transaction within seven days from the date of the transaction in chronological order, indicating each customers surname, forenames and address.
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN came up a with circular, directing financial institutions to demand evidence of registration with SCUML as condition for doing business with DNFIs
The Special Control Unit against Money Laundering continue to register, and obtain mandatory periodic reports from designated non-financial institutions, which are natural vectors of money laundering. These include dealers in jewelry, cars and luxury goods, casinos, audit firms, estate agents, chartered accountants, professional bodies, clearing and settlement companies etc.
The Commission has followed up that enforcement action with a full blown sensitization programme. One of such programme involving Bureau De Change operators in the country took place last year at the EFCC Academy in Karu, Abuja. The programme organized jointly with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU was aimed are sensitizing the operators to their reporting responsibilities under the money laundering law.
International Cooperation
Under Lamorde, global confidence in the EFCC has been restored. Before he came on board, credibility of the agency was at an all-time low, with critical partners doubting its commitment to the anti-graft war. A number of donor organisations and law enforcement agencies had actually severed ties with the EFCC or drastically scaled down their levels of engagement. However with Lamorde’s emergence as EFCC Chair, the tide has changed, with many donor organizations and foreign Law Enforcement Agencies, LEAs now eager to do business with the EFCC.
In furtherance of expanding EFCC’s collaborative engagement with its foreign partners, Operatives of the Commission travelled to Perth Australia and Madrid Spain in April 2014 to work with the West Australian and Spanish National Police. Through this program, they were able to assist the host Agencies in pending trans-national investigations and also gain exposure in international best practices. The Australian trip was in part facilitated by the Commonwealth Office. The Commission in the last one year also hosted Investigators and prosecutors from Zambia, United States, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Niger, World Bank and African Development Bank.
Under the same period, international Memoranda of Understanding or Joint Working Agreements were signed with:
· Australia Federal Police
· The Global Fund
· United States Federal Trade Commission
- The World Bank
· African Development Bank
· West Australian Police
· Higher Authority against Corruption and Related Offences (HALCIA) Niger Republic
· British Serious Fraud Office
· Economic Crimes Network (New Zealand)
· Association of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa
· United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Nigeria’s Consumer Protection Council (CPC)
Joint Working Agreement was signed between the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) of the United Kingdom and EFCC in May 2013 in relation to Securency International Ltd. The Agreement was recently extended in December 2014 till December 2015
EFCC signed the Administrative Co-operation Arrangement in 2014, on the Establishment of the Economic Crime Agency Network (ECAN). The network comprising of the City of London Police, Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau of Singapore, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), Hong Kong’s Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC), the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, New Zealand’s Serious Fraud Office, as well as the Serious Fraud Office of the United Kingdom and the Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)
An Anti-money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/ CFT) capacity building program with the United States Department of Justice is currently being implemented at the Commission. A Legal Advisor from the US DOJ is embedded with EFCC to coordinate the programme (2012 – 2015)
The Commission is also currently involved in the West African Sharing Platform (WASP) project with the Ghanaian Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). A draft memorandum of Understanding is currently being reviewed.
Locally, the Commission signed MOUs with Nigerian Customs Service, Copyright Commission, Stock Exchange, Federal Capital Development Authority, Civil Society Organization members of Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Network (ACE network) etc.
Joint National Task Forces
EFCC’s bid to take away profit from crime is the bedrock of the Commission’s cooperation with the Nigerian Customs Services.
Its joint recovery team in Lagos recovered the sum of N6.53 billion in evaded customs importation duties in Lagos between July 2012 and March 2014.
Another joint recovery commenced operations at Onne in Port Harcourt in April 2014 to recover customs revenue in the South-South Zone of the Country.
Joint Training with ACAs
This platform provides an opportunity to all the relevant anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria to synergize in the area of capacity building and inter-agency co-operation and collaboration in investigation, asset recovery/ seizure, and prosecution. These trainings were hosted at the EFCC Academy in Karu, Abuja.
Last year, precisely between October 7 and 11, the EFCC successfully played host to the 6th INTERPOL Global Conference on “Anti- Corruption, Financial Crimes and Asset Recovery” at the EFCC Academy, Abuja.
Public Enlightenment and Sensitization
In furtherance of mandate to enlighten the populace on corruption, the Commission has strengthened its communications section which the creation of a directorate of Public affairs which in the last three years, stepped up the Commission’s sensitization efforts through three units in the department: Media and Publicity Unit, Public Interface and Enlightenment and Re-orientation Units. A fourth Unit, Media Academy organized training and refresher courses for media and public relations officers of law enforcement agencies.
Publications
Three editions of the Commission’s flagship publication, Zero Tolerance magazine were produced in 2014. Also, in print are two other informational publications: The Small Book of Scams and EFCC FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions).
Electronic Media Programme
The Eagle, designed to enable the Commission tell its story to Nigerians using the popular platform of electronic media, was revived in 2014, through the benevolence of the former Chairman of Daar Communications Group Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, who offered the Commission free airtime. Thirty-nine (39) episodes of the programme was produced and aired on AIT in 2014.
Other television stations, which are also airing the programme free-of-charge, are: Core TV and DAMASAT TV, thereby affording a wider spectrum of viewers, access to information about EFCC activities and eliciting popular support.
Other Electronic Media Interventions
Ten (10) radio stations cutting across zones of the country featured the Head of Media in popular local audience phone-in programmes aimed at sensitizing Nigerians at the grassroots on the evils of economic and financial crimes and how to avoid falling victims of scams. The station include; Freedom Radio, (Kano); Ray Power FM, (Gombe); Wazobia FM, Nigeria Info FM, 91.7 FM and Rhythm FM (Port Harcourt); Delta Radio, (Asaba); Ray Power FM, (Benin-City); Faaji FM, (Lagos) and Vision FM,
(Abuja).
There have also been live telephone interviews on the popular Hembelembe show on Love FM (Abuja),Fact-file on Ray Power FM and BEN TV, (UK).
Capacity Building Workshop for Journalists Covering EFCC
Three workshops aimed at improving the capacity of the media to effectively report the Commission, were held in Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu in 2014. A total of 150 journalists in South-South, South-East and North-West zones have been trained at the workshops.
PUBLIC (ONLINE) INTERFACE
The online platforms we operate presently are:
Facebook
The Commission generates content on the facebook page, making everyone within and outside the Commission to be carried along on the activities of the Commission.
Petitions/ Complaints within and outside the country are regularly sent through the facebook page. We also had5,858 Likes and 151 Visits as at 5th December, 2014.
Googleplus is one of the new social media platforms the Commission is using to to drive national discourse on Good Governance. Currently, Followers on GOOGLE+ stood at 32 and people who viewed our posts =18,106 as at 16th September, 2014. The platform provides an avenue for the public to contribute on a particular issue or topic through the “Chatroom”.
Twitter is an on-line social media network where members view & post short messages to a network of contacts.
Twitter is used as a tool for posting the Commission’s “Breaking News.
The Unit posts the Commission’s stories and any other events that occur in and around the Commission on ourTwitter handle.
Our Followers on Twitter as at 5th December, 2014 stood at 15,100. Also, 1,677 Tweets and 23 Videos were posted. The Commission’s Twitter Handle is @officialefcc.
YouTube is a visual plus audio sharing site and social network where the Commission uploads and shares videos with a worldwide community of millions of viewers.
If you miss an EFCC event and want to watch it, all you need to do is to log on towww.youtube.com/officialefcc and you will have all our programs to yourself without limitation to how many times you can watch the videos.
So far, we have recorded 7,912 views and 90 Loyal Subscribers of our Channel within the few months we have operated this platform.
AudioBoo is an audio broadcast platform like a radio station on the internet.
This helps in disseminating EFCC activities via on-line Radio Station.
Presently, the Commission does not air its programme on radio due to lack of funding, therefore AudioBoocomes handy.
We upload the audio version of THE EAGLE on TV and any other activity of the Commission that is of public interest.
The EFCC Website https://efccnigeria.org
The website contains all the information that the Commission’s stakeholders and the general public need to know about the EFCC.
Between April 29, 2014 till date, 253 stories including WANTED PERSONS have been posted on the website.
Also, between April 29, 2014 till date, there have been 128, 627 “Hits” (visits) to the Commission’s website by the public.
Hotline
Hotlines have bridged the communication gap between the EFCC and its stakeholders. They have provided the Commission an avenue for instant feadback as complaints and inquiries are received and treated on-the-spot.
OFFICIAL EMAIL
People do not need to physically visit the Commission to receive answers to their question on any issue as the Commission’s official email is actively used to receive and respond to international and local enquirers and complainants.
So far, we have received 3,942 International and 1,834 local Complaints via Facebook and the official email box.
These petitions are usually printed out and sent to the office of the Director of Operations.
Enlightenment and Reorientation
Public Private Sector Initiative
This programme promotes workplace ethics as a way of fighting against corruption, economic and financial crimes. So far, the campaign has been taken in 2014, to: Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN),Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF),Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC); Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC),the Nigerian Communications, Commission (NCC) and Airtel, among others.
Budget Tacking and Monitoring
In the period under review, the Commission conducted Budget tracking and monitoring training for Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) and Local Government Staff in Ebonyi and Zamfara States.
Women Anticorruption Initiative
Under this initiative, women drawn from various sectors of the Nigerian society were trained on how to engage their immediate community in the fight against corruption. The maiden edition held in August 2014 in Abuja.
Interfaith Anticorruption Manuals
The Commission’s Interfaith Anticorruption Training/Preaching manuals produced by the Interfaith Anticorruption Committee (IAAC) was launched on December 9, 2014 as the main event of the celebration of this year’s World Anticorruption Day. The Training/Preaching Manuals are well researched documents that are to be used in teaching and preaching against corruption in churches and mosques nationwide. They have relevant scriptural references, illustrations and teaching aids.
Memorandum of Understanding with Civil Society Organizations
The Commission in November 2014, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with credible Civil Society Organizations to partner in the fight against corruption. This is on the platform of the reformedAnticorruption Revolution (ANCOR), which is now known as the Anticorruption and Economic and Financial Crimes Support Network (ACE-Network).
Kidnapped School Children
Yauri FGC Students, Kebbi (Freed)The last victims released spent 707 days from June 17, 2021 - May 25, 2023
Baptist School Students, Kaduna (Freed)
Spent 850 Day from July 5, 2022 to November 2, 2023
Tegina Islamiya Pupils, Niger (Freed)
Spent 88 days from May 30, 2021 - August 26, 2021
Report By: PRNigeria.com
