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EFCC re-arraigns don for alleged N1.4bn fraud
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A professor, Uche Chigozie, who allegedly defrauded the Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, was on Thursday re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before a Federal High Court in Lagos, for N1.47bn money laundering.
Chigozie, who was arraigned alongside three companies, Visionary Integrated Consulting Ltd, Nemad Associates Ltd. and Revamp Global Enterprises, is facing 11 counts bordering on conspiracy, fraud, stealing, and money laundering, preferred against him by the EFCC.
He was first arraigned in August 2023, before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, and had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Oweibo was, however, transferred out of the Lagos Division, and the case was reassigned to the new trial judge, Justice Dehinde Dipeolu.
The EFCC’s prosecution counsel, Mrs Chinenye Okezie, told the court that the defendant allegedly conspired with the other defendants, and used the sum of N1.47bn belonging to the Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria.
Okezie said that the defendant allegedly retained the sum of N197m in his UBA account, which formed part of the proceeds of illegal act of gratification.
She also told the court that Chigozie allegedly used N120m to acquire a property in his name, in the Gwarimpa area of Abuja and another N200m, to acquire two properties in Owerri, Imo State.
The anti-graft agency said the defendant used the aggregate sum of N90m to acquire several plots of land in parts of Owerri.
He was further accused of using the sum of N34m to acquire three Toyota Hilux vehicles in his name.
The commission also said that the defendant allegedly received a dollar cash payment equivalent to N87m from one Muwawiyya Haruna, which sum exceeded the amount authorised by law.
Our correspondent gathered that the EFCC said the defendant ought to have known that the money formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity of fraud.
According to the commission, the offences committed contravened Sections 1(a), 15(1), 15(2), 15(3), 16, and 18(a) of the Money Laundering Act, 2012.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Following the defendant’s plea on Thursday, the defence counsel, Mr Etudo Mefo, urged the court to allow the defendant to continue on an earlier bail granted him by the court on August 7, 2023.
But the prosecutor, Okezie, urged the court to only allow the defendant to continue on his existing bail if the defence counsel would undertake to ensure his attendance in court.
She explained to the court that the defendant had been absent on certain occasions, which she claimed had caused some drama.
The prosecutor, therefore, insisted that she would not oppose if the defence counsel made that undertaking.
In his response, the defence counsel told the court that when the defendant was first granted bail, his sureties included his biological father as well as a legal practitioner.
He told the court that he was willing to add to the number, and thus undertook to ensure attendance of the defendant in court.
Following the agreement of the parties, Justice Dipeolu adjourned the case until March 13 for trial.
Kebbi Police Command has said that it has in her custody four suspects for defrauding intending pilgrims in the state.
SP Bashir Usman, spokesman of Kebbi State Police Command, in a statement said that following complaints from victims and Kebbi state pilgrims welfare agency arrested four persons for allegedly defrauding intending pilgrims and issuing them fake Hajj bags,fake and fake medical records.
He said suspicion began when the intending pilgrims names were not seen in the list of approved pilgrims but had in their possession hajj materials which investigations revealed they were fraudulently given by the suspects.
The statement further said that the prime suspect Aminu Hassan Zauro was arrested by the police with other suspect namely Tabiu Abubakar, Usman Attahiru, Mustapha Sani Zauro and one Bello jos who currently in custody and are being investigated.
Bashir added that suspect Aminu Hassan Zauro defrauded the victim of 8,600.00 under the promise of securing two Hajj seats.
“The prime suspect Aminu Hassan Zauro has no connection whatsoever with Kebbi state pilgrims welfare agency but convinced with other suspects to defraud the unsuspecting intending pilgrims to the extent of giving them fake Hajj materials,” he said.
While other suspects are at large following the arrest of those in custody, CP Umar. M Hajia admonished members of the public to be wary of Hajj fraudsters and deal with the agency or approved agents.
He pledged to do justice in the matter to ensure those at large are brought to book, warning criminals to abandon their nefarious habits or be ready to face the Police.
Drama ensued at the premises of an Osun State High Court sitting in Ede on Monday as operatives of the Nigeria Police Force arrested a traditional ruler in the state, the Elegbedi of Egbedi, Oba Muideen Azeez.
Before the arrest, the monarch had appeared before Justice Kudirat Akano on charges bordering on arson.
The royal father appeared before the court alongside Akeeb Azeez Abioye, Yisa Surajudeen Akolapo, Rasidi Ayandiran and Sarafadeen Abioye.
The defendants were alleged to have, among other offences, on September 3, 2019, at a farm in Iloba within the Ede Judicial Division, while armed with firearms and offensive weapons, robbed Wasilatu Akinola and other women processing palm oil with her of about 70 kegs of palm oil, palm kernel, palm fruits, goats and other domestic animals valued at about N10m.
During Monday’s proceedings, defence counsel, M. Atobatele, called four witnesses, including three police operatives and the palace secretary.
While being led in examination-in-chief, one of the police operatives, Assistant Superintendent of Police Akindosu Olusoji, who said he served at the Ido-Osun Police Division between 2019 and 2021, told the court that it was the monarch who had called to complain that someone destroyed his farm, adding that the alleged perpetrators were arrested.
“I and one other officer visited the area in Egbedi. At the farm, I met a pastor and some other labourers using chemicals in a spraying machine to spray the maize crops on the farm and I asked who he was and he said he was the owner of the farm.
“I asked why he was destroying it if he was the owner. So, I got him and the labourers arrested. I obtained their statements and they were detained, and I continued with the investigation. I never arrested any of the defendants. They were the ones who came to complain,” he told the court.
Justice Akano, in her ruling, adjourned the matter till June 17 for continuation of hearing.
But shortly after the session, police operatives arrested the royal father within the court premises and whisked him away.
When contacted for clarification on the incident, the Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the arrest, saying the operatives executed a court order and remand warrant.
Ojelabi said, “The officers acted strictly based on a court order. There was an arrest and remand warrant issued by a court.
“He was arrested and remanded in the Ile-Ife Correctional Centre based on a court order.
One casualty has been rushed to the hospital after a loaded 20ft container truck lost control of its brakes and eventually fell onto a mini yellow bus.
The Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA) revealed that the incident occurred at Second Rainbow, inward Oshodi, on the service lane by the police tactical team station in Lagos.
The incident also affected some roadside shops.
Men of the Nigeria Police Force are present to document the accident, while our LASTMA officials are well-positioned to manage traffic.
Two vehicles have been contacted to ensure prompt evacuation while traffic is still moving.
In February, two people were killed after a collision involving two fully laden 40-foot container trucks along the Cele inward section of the Oshodi–Apapa Expressway in Lagos, authorities said.
LASTMA confirmed that one of the truck drivers and a suspected miscreant lost their lives in the crash, which occurred around Mile 2 on the busy freight route.
According to LASTMA, the driver of one of the trucks (registration number T-392 LA) was trapped inside the cabin following the impact and was later confirmed dead.
The second victim, described as a suspected miscreant, was found beneath one of the trucks during recovery operations, though officials said the circumstances of his presence at the scene were not immediately clear.
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