Dangabar: Principal Suspect in N14bn Police Pension Fraud Died- EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday October 17, 2019, filed a motion before Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf of the Federal High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja to amend the charges in the criminal breach of trust and fraud to the tune of N14 billion in the police pension scheme, following the death of the principal defendant, Esai Dangabar, who was facing charges alongside others.
At the resumed hearing today, proceedings were stalled when the lead defence counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo announced to the court the death of the first defendant, Dangabar, whom he said died on July 24, 2019.
In buttressing his point, Awomolo submitted the Garki Hospital death certificate of the defendant to the court and appreciated the concern and the accommodating spirit of the presiding judge, since commencement of the trial.
“I respectfully appreciate His lordship for always giving the first defendant permission to travel for his treatment before his death. I pray for long life for his lordship,” he stated.
Prosecution counsel, A. O. Atolagbe, however, described Dangabar’s death as unfortunate and extended his condolences to his family and prayed the court for more time to amend the charges since the deceased was no longer alive.
“My Lord, I have seen the death certificate of the first defendant. It’s quite unfortunate. We will be asking for sometimes to regularise the charges since the deceased is no longer involved,” Atolagbe said.
Justice Hussein who extended his sympathy to the family of the deceased adjourned the case to December 5, 2019, for the necessary amendments to the charges.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
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EFCC Arraigns Man for Giving it False Information
The Kano Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, November 18, 2019, arraigned one Abdullahi Tijjani before Justice O.A Egwuatu of the Federal High Court Kano, on a one-count charge of deceiving the Commission with false information.
The defendant allegedly misled operatives of the Commission by alleging falsely that a staff of Yankura Branch of Eco Bank Plc, unlawfully withdrew the sum of N7,200,000 (Seven Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira) only from his corporate bank account.
The charge reads that “You Abdullahi Tijjani on or about 15th March, 2019 in Kano within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, with intent to defraud, misled the officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the course of the exercise of their official duty, by giving false information that a staff of Yankura Branch of Eco Bank Plc unlawfully withdrew the sum of Seven Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira, only from your account with the bank with account name Bawahala Da Yardar Allah Investment Limited and account number 5852011911, which information you knew to be false and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 39(2)(a) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 39(2)(b) of the same Act.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge, prompting prosecution counsel, Sadiq Hussein to ask the court for a trial date, while the defence counsel moved an application for his bail.
Justice Egwuatu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1million and two sureties in like sum and adjourned the matter to November 19, 2019 for commencement of hearing.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
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EFCC Secures Conviction of Fraudster in Sokoto
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Sokoto Zonal Office, on Friday, October 18, 2019 secured the conviction of one Momoh Ibrahim Onimisi before Justice Malami Umar Dogondaji of Sokoto State High Court.
Onimisi was convicted on a one-count charge of intent to defraud to the tune of N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) only.
The convict’s journey to prison started sometime in October 2018 when he approached the complainant, James Olurunfemi under false pretence that his company Rabase Nigeria Ltd was awarded a contract by the Conference of Primary Schools Head Teachers of Nigeria, Sokoto State Chapter and that he needed the sum of N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) to execute it, whereas he neither own a company, nor was awarded any contract.
The charge reads: “That you Momoh Ibrahim Onimisi, sometime in October 2018 at Sokoto, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud, dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) only, belonging to one James Olurunfemi and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 309 of the same law.’’
Onimisi pleaded guilty to the charge upon his arraignment.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, M. M Gwani asked the court to convict and sentence him in line with the plea bargain agreement reached by the prosecution and defence on the matter.
The defence counsel, M. D Uwais, however, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as his client was a first time offender, who has become remorseful. He also told the court that the defendant has made a restitution to the victim to the tune of his lost sum.
Justice Dogondaji convicted and sentenced the defendant to one year imprisonment with N5000 (Five Thousand Naira) option of fine.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
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Employment Scam: Three Civil Servants Plead Guilty in Kano
Three staff of Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA): Nazifi Ali Cigari, Abbas Tijjani and Ado Aminu on Thursday, October 17, 2019 pleaded guilty to an amended one-count charge of retention of proceeds of crime before Justice O.A Egwuatu of the Federal High Court Kano.
In view of their plea, prosecution counsel Musa Isah led Ekene Ikpeama, an operative of the commission, in evidence, who reviewed the fact of the case.
Ikpeama disclosed that the defendants were accomplices of one Abduljalal Salisu, who perfected the act of defrauding people by selling to them fake employment letters of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA).
The witness also revealed that upon receipt of intelligence, he and his team raided the scene of the crime, where Abduljalal was caught in the process of selling a fake employment letter to one of his victims.
“Upon receipt of the intelligence, I and my team swung into action and raided the scene of the crime which is Fine Time Park, located at Nasarawa Local Government. On reaching there, we found an individual named Abduljalal Salihu,” he said.
Ikpeama also revealed that the first defendant, Cigari was also sighted at the scene but upon seeing the operatives, he took to his heels.
When Abduljalal was brought to the Kano Zonal Office of the Commission, he disclosed in his statement that he engaged the three defendants to source for interested applicants for employment, knowing full well that the employment offers he sells were fake.
All the defendants also admitted in their statements to being accomplices in the fraud. During a search conducted in their vehicle, employment letters for FIRS and KAROTA were found all of which were confirmed fake by the two agencies.
After the review of the facts of the case, Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter to November 7th for conviction and sentencing.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
