EFCC Nabs Abbas Lakis with Over $2m at Abuja Airport

EFCC Nabs Abbas Lakis with Over $2m at Abuja Airport
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arrested one Abbas Lakis, a Lebanese for money laundering offence.

Lakis was picked up at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, following intelligence report that he had on him, undeclared huge sums of monies aboard the Egypt Airline bringing him from the Kano Airport en route Lebanon.

At the point of arrest, a thorough search on his luggage, uncovered $2,104,936 (Two Million, One Hundred and Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Thirty six Dollars), £163, 740 (One Hundred and Sixty Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Forty Pounds), €144,680 (One Hundred and Forty Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty Euros).

Other currencies found with Lakis include Riyal 391,838 (Three Hundred and Ninety One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty Eight Riyals), CHF 3,420 (Three Thousand Four Hundred and Twenty Swiss Franc),Lira 435 (Four Hundred and Thirty five Lira), £109,000 (One Hundred and Nine Thousand Lebanese Pounds), Dirhams 10,135 (Ten Thousand One Hundred and Thirty Five UAE Dirhams) ¥10,000 (Ten Thousand Chinese Yuan) and Riyal10 (Ten Qatar riyal), in his possession.

He will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
30th November, 2018
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NPF: EFCC Docks Deputy Director For N145.3m Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos office, on Friday, November 30, 2018, arraigned one Bello Na’ Allah Yabo, a Deputy Director, Accounts, Ministry of Police Affairs, before Justice A.I. Ogunmoye of the State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State. He was arraigned on a 13-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraudulent diversion of funds and money laundering to the tune of N145,342,063 (One Hundred and Forty-Five Million, Three Hundred and Forty-Two Thousand, Sixty-Three Kobo).

The offence is contrary to Sections 383(1) and 390(5) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2009.

Yabo is facing trial alongside his company, Imrana Ventures, for allegedly using his position as a former Pay Officer, Nigeria Police Force, Ekiti State, in 2015 to divert to his personal use, money meant as the emoluments of police officers in the state. The defendant allegedly concealed the proceeds of crime through his company account domiciled in Unity Bank.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Bello Na’Allah Yabo, a.k.a. Imrana Ventures, between February 3 and 5, 2015, in Ado-Ekiti, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently converted to your use the sum of N21,899,600.00 (Twenty- One Million, Eight Hundred and Ninety-Nine Thousand, Six Hundred Naira), property of the Nigeria Police Force.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him. In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, George Chia-Yakua, asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.

The defence counsel, Y.C, Maikyau, prayed the court to move an application for bail dated November 14, 2018 on behalf of his client.

However, the prosecution counsel opposed the bail application on the grounds that the defendant had not placed any material before the court to warrant being granted the bail.

He, therefore, prayed the court to reject the defendant’s application for bail in totality.

Justice Ogunmoye, after listening to both counsels, adjourned the matter to December 6, 2018 for ruling on the bail application and January 22 and 23, 2019 for commencement of trial.

The defendant was remanded in Federal Prison, Ado- Ekiti

Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity

30th November, 2018
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EFCC Arraigns Two for N12 Million Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned one Michael Afolabi and Shafiu Suleiman before Justice Idris Kogo of Federal High Court, Sokoto on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and criminal breach of trust.

One of the charges reads: ”That you Michael Afolabi and Shafiu Suleiman sometimes in July, 2016 within Sokoto Judicial Division of the High Court, with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain the sum of N12, 000,000 (Twelve Million Naira) by false pretence from N.G.M. Nig. Ltd thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8(a) of the Advance fee fraud and other Fraud Related offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same act”.

They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. Upon taking their plea, prosecuting counsel, Tofik Lasis, asked the court for a date for hearing.

The defence counsel, M. Adeleke, made an oral application for bail but it was not entertained.

Justice Kogo, thereafter, adjourned to November 30, 2018 for hearing of formal bail application.

Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
30th November, 2018
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