Nigerian News Leader First with details then facts 
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)@CeleOkaf11
Nigeria's Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has commended the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for its contribution to the development of the Integrity Action Plan for Nigeria’s seaports.
By Abdulrasaq Ali (Kwara State Correspondent)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), have pledged to deepen collaboration in a bid to fight all manners of graft in Nigeria.
By Zainab Yusuf (Financial Crime Editor)
Justice Okong Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, December 4, 2020, gave an order for the remand of ex-chairman, Pension Reform Task Team, (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina in prison custody till the end of his trial, and adjourned the matter till December 8, 2020 upon application by a new defence counsel, Adaji Abel.
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)
Justice Mikail Aliyu of the Niger State High Court has on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, adjourned for a definite hearing the trial of former Niger State Governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, Tanko Beji, and Umar Muhammed Nasko.
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has advised the media not to focus only on reporting the enforcement mandate of the Commission.
By Sam Ejiogu (Lagos State Correspondent)
The second prosecution witness, PW2, Abdulrahman Arabo, in the ongoing trial of Paul Usoro, SAN, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, for alleged N1.4bn fraud, on Wednesday 3, 2020, told Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos how the defendant received a sum of N1.1bn from the Akwa-Ibom State government.
* Witness Narrates How He Built Houses With Crime Proceeds In Ilorin
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)
The trial of a self-styled herbalist, Alfa Jamiu Isiaka, who allegedly impersonated the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina and a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Maikanti Baru, to defraud a South Korean National, Keun Sig Kim to the tune of N30million, resumed on December 15, 2020, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, recalling its star witness, Dare Folarin.
The 31-year-old Alfa, while parading as senior government official deceived the foreign national to collect various sums of money to the tune of N30million under the pretext of securing for him an NNPC approval/ marketing form and license certificate to buy crude oil in Nigeria.
In the course of interrogation, Alfa Jamiu claimed that he used the money to conduct sacrifice for the petitioner. According to him, part of the money was used to buy vulture, elephant skin, elephant intestine, the skull of a lion and liver of gorilla.
The Ilorin Zonal Office of the EFCC had on June 14, 2019, arraigned Alfa Jamiu on a four-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, impersonation and forgery of documents before Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin.
The court, however, turned down his bail application and ordered his remand at the NigerianCorrectional Centre, Mandala.
In the course of the trial, the EFCC presented witnesses and tendered various documents which were admitted in evidence by the court.
Consequently, the prosecution closed its case, setting the stage for the defendant to open its defence.
However, the Commission received fresh intelligence on the matter, which led to new discoveries. Hence, the prosecution sought leave of the Court to tender in evidence records of its new findings. The application was graciously granted by the court.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, counsel to the EFCC, O. B Akinsola said: "My Lord, you will recall that this court had earlier granted our application to recall the officer who investigated this case. The witness is in court, ready to testify."
Testifying, the witness, Dare Folarin, narrated how intelligence received shortly after the Commission closed its case led to new discoveries on the matter. According to him, further investigations on the intelligence received revealed that the defendant, among other things, used part of the money he fraudulently collected from Keun Sig Kim to acquire properties in Ilorin.
"My Lord, after the Commission closed its case, based on intelligence reports, we discovered a mighty residential building built by the defendant, Jamiu Isiaka, at Oke-Fomo area of Ilorin.
"We were able to establish that Alfa Jamiu is the original owner of the said property. Part of the money he collected from a South Korean National, Keun Sig Kim was used to build the house", Folarin stated.
Pictures of the said house were tendered and admitted as exhibits by the court.
Thereafter, Justice Abdulgafar adjourned until January 21, 2021, for the defendant to open its defence. NNL.
By Zainab Yusuf (Financial Crime Editor)
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Thursday, December 3, 2020, adjourned till February 22, 2021 for continued trial of Jide Omokore, two of his companies, Atlantic Energy Brass Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, as well as Victor Briggs, former managing director, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC and Membere Abiye for alleged oil fraud involving Omokore’s companies in respect of a Strategic Alliance Agreement on OML 26, 30, 34 & 42. The defendants are facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on amended nine-count charge, bordering on alleged money laundering and procurement fraud to the tune of $1.6billion.
At the resumed trial on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, prosecution witness, Abdulrasheed Bawa, who is an investigator with the EFCC, while being led in evidence by Adebisi Adeniyi, told the court that Omokore, (the first defendant) bought properties for former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The properties, Penthouse 22, Block B, No 8, Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos and Penthouse 21, Block C5, Bella Vista Estate, Banana Island, Lagos, he said, were purchased at the cost of $1,194,000 and $3,570,000 respectively.
He tendered the documents in respect of the properties and they were admitted in evidence.
The two properties, however, were in 2018, forfeited to the Federal Government through an Order of a Federal High Court, Lagos, upon a proceeding, initiated by the EFCC.
Justice Dimgba adjourned the case upon mention, to enable the counsel, who flew in from outside Abuja to catch up with their flights, ordering that the passports of the fourth and fifth defendants (Briggs and Abiye), respectively be released to them to enable them travel, stating that the passports must be returned to the court on or before the adjourned date. NNL.
By Zainab Yusuf (Financial Crime Editor)
The trial of Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman, Pension Reform Task Team, (PRTT) continued on Thursday, December 3, 2020, with the prosecution witness nine (PW9), Rouqayyah Ibrahim, telling the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Okong Abang how Maina acquired properties in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, United States of America, and a $2million (Two Million USA Dollars), property in Jabi, Abuja.
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Saturday, December 12, 2020, emerged best cybercrime Prevention agency in Nigeria at the second Security and Emergency Management Award (SAEMA). The accolade was earned by the Ibadan zonal office of the EFCC which was recognized for its zeal in combating cybercrimes.
Receiving the award on behalf of the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Mohammad Abba Umar, Head of the Ibadan Zonal Office, Kanu Idagu, thanked the organizers for recognizing the work of the Commission.
“We work to make sure we exceed our limits. Whatever we do this year, with this encouragement, definitely the staff will be motivated to do more”, he said.
Idagu stressed that the Commission cannot sit and watch the reputation of the country being tarnished by criminals adding that the EFCC will not relent in arresting and ensuring discreet prosecution of such criminals.
The event which took place at the Nicon Luxury Hotels, Abuja was the second in series after the median edition, last year,
SAEMA is an initiative of Emergency Digest, a subsidiary of Image Merchants Limited.
According to the organizers, a total of 254 entries were received for all the categories out of which, 136 nominees qualified for the competition, and 54 finalists were selected by the jury from which 18 winners of the 18 categories emerged, including the EFCC.
Meanwhile, the EFCC Operatives of the Port Harcourt Zonal Office, have arrested an undergraduate, Nnamdi Henry Chimezulem a.k.a. Dessey Marvel, for running a phony investment scheme and in the process, defrauding his victims a sum of N850,000 (Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only).
He was arrested December 3, at Omuoda Lane, Aluu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State based on the claims of a petitioner alleging his fraudulent dealings through his firm: Skyworld Investment Limited.
One of Chimezulem's victims, Ukoro Blessing alleged that, sometime in July 2020, he approached her with an online foreign exchange business with an assurance of fifty percent (50%) returns on investment within two (2) weeks.
This offer, Blessing said, made many unsuspecting members of the public invest in Chimezulem's platform and got defrauded. A total sum of N850,000 has so far been traced to him.
The suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded. NNL.
By Zainab Yusuf (Financial Crime Editor)
The sixth prosecution witness (PW6), Temitope Isinkaye, in the trial of Abiodun Agbele, aide to former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose on Thursday, December 3, 2020 told the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba how the sum of N1.2 billion, that came from the Office of the National Security Adviser, under Colonel Sambo Dasuki was shared out to five different accounts.
By Zainab Yusuf (Financial Crime Editor)
Former Minister of Interior, Senator Abba Patrick Moro, on Thursday, December 3, 2020, began his defence before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, stating in his testimony that the March 17, 2014 recruitment exercise of Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS) was marred by controversies, nepotism, job racketeering and lopsidedness, which derailed the exercise even before he was appointed minister of Interior.
Sponsored Advert: Amazing HAIRS From Hair La Explorah Click/TAP For More INFO!!!
