Court orders EFCC to release or produce Emefiele Nov. 6

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of an FCT High Court on Thursday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimea Commission (EFCC) to either release the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, immediately or produce him in court on Nov. 6.

Justice Adeniyi gave the order after hearing an ex parte motion, marked M/122/2023 in a Motion on Notice with the number, FCT/HC/CV/040/2023, filed by Emefiele,.

He was first detained from June, when he was removed as CBN Governor, by the Department of State Service (DSS) and later transferred to EFCC last week, seeking his release.

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Emefiele, through his legal team, joined the Federal Government,Attirney-General of the Federation (AGF), EFCC chairman and the anti-corruption commission as respondents.

In his ruling, the judge ordered the anti-graft agency to either release the plaintiff/applicant unconditionally or in the alternative produce him before the court next Monday when the Motion on Notice would be heard for the purpose of being admitted to bail.

Emefiele was scheduled to be arraigned by the Federal Government before Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT high court t, Maitama, on August 17 alongside two others, Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro and a company, April1616 Investment Limited.

They were to be arraigned on a 20-count charge bordering on procurement fraud to the tine of N6.9billion, conferment of advantage and conspiracy.

The arraignment could, however, not hold due to the absence of Yaro, who was said to be sick and the matter was adjourned August 23.

Due to the plea bargain Emefiele was said to be discussing with the Federal Government, the matter is yet to be heard till date.

Court orders EFCC to release or produce Emefiele Nov. 6

Again, EFCC boss, Bawa remanded

Abdulrasheed Bawa, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has been imprisoned for allegedly disobeying a court order.

The court further ordered Usman Baba, the inspector general of police, to arrest Bawa and detain him in Kuje prison for the ensuing 14 days, or until he absolves himself of the contempt.

In his ruling on Monday, Justice R.O. Ayoola of the Kogi State High Court approved the EFCC chairman’s request to be committed to prison for disobeying a court order issued on November 30, 2022, ordering him to produce the case’s applicant, Ali Bello.

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Ali Bello had dragged Bawa to court for arresting and detaining him illegally, with the court ruling in his favour, only for the EFCC to arraign him for alleged money laundering three days after the ruling.

The EFCC’s applications for setting aside and stay of execution of the ruling were refused for want of merit.

The Court had, in Form 49, Order IX, Rule 13, marked, “HCL/697M/2022” and titled, “Notice to Show Cause Why Order of Committal Should not be Made,” asked the EFCC Chairman to appear before it on January 18, 2022 to explain why he should not be jailed for flouting the order given on December 12, 2022 in a case filed by Ali Bello against the EFCC and Bawa, as the 1st and 2nd respondents, respectively.

The court ordered that the EFCC and Bawa be served the motion of notice together with Form 49 by substituted means.
The court had declared the arrest and detention of the applicant in the face of a subsisting court order made by a court of competent jurisdiction and without a warrant of arrest “or being informed of the offence for which he was arrested” as unlawful, unconstitutional, and in contravention of the personal liberty and dignity of human person guaranteed under Chapter IV of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

The court had also ordered the respondents to tender an apology to the applicant in a national newspaper and awarded N10 million compensation for him.

Again, EFCC boss, Bawa remanded

Internet Fraudster Bags Three Years Imprisonment In Benin

The Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, November 21, 2022 secured the conviction of one Musa Shaka before Justice M. Itsueli of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City.

Shaka was arraigned on one count charge bordering on possession of fraudulent documents.

The charge against him reads: “that you, MUSA SHAKA (M) on or about the 25 day of October 2021 in Benin City, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court had in your possession in your Vivo V2026 mobile phone documents containing false pretence with different subjects which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.

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The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him in court.

In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, I.M Elodi prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.

Justice Itsueli convicted and sentenced the defendant to three years imprisonment with option of a fine of Two Hundred Thousand Naira.

The defendant is to forfeit his mobile phone to the Federal Government of Nigeria and undertake in writing to be of good behavior henceforth.

Internet Fraudster Bags Three Years Imprisonment In Benin