EFCC

You can’t prosecute me for fraud – Ondo Speaker tells EFCC

Published

2 years ago

November 16, 2022

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You can’t prosecute me for fraud – Ondo Speaker tells EFCC

Following his arraignment over alleged misappropriation of N2.4m belonging to the state assembly, Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr Bamidele Oloyeloogun, has told the state High Court, sitting in Akure, the state capital, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission cannot prosecute him for alleged corrupt practices.

Oloyeloogun is facing trial alongside another lawmaker, Mr Bankole Felemu-Gudu, and a staffer of the Assembly, Mr Olusegun Kayode. The speaker is accused of signing off the money for a seminar which the lawmaker and the civil servant were supposed to attend but allegedly did not.

Kicking against his prosecution, Oloyeloogun’s lawyer, Mr Femi Emodamori told the court that his client can’t be tried for fraud by the EFCC as the state already had its own Public Complaint Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption Commission Law passed into law and signed by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in January this year.

Emodamori noted that the charge against his clients was that they committed financial crimes involving the finances and assets of the state, and since the state had its own version of the law, the EFCC should leave the prosecution of the case.

Counsel for the EFCC, Mr Fredrick Dibang, objected to this, saying the court had jurisdiction because the law enacted by the state assembly was contrary to the acts of the National Assembly that established the EFCC.

Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye fixed the hearing for the objection and counter-objection to November 25, 2022, after listening to the arguments.

You can’t prosecute me for fraud – Ondo Speaker tells EFCC

EFCC

EFCC declares ex-Kogi Gov Yahaya Bello wanted

Published

1 month ago

April 19, 2024

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EFCC declares ex-Kogi Gov Yahaya Bello wanted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Yahaya Bello wanted for an alleged financial crime to the tune of ₦80.2 billion.

Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency called on those with vital information about the former Kogi governor’s whereabouts to reach the commission or the police.

According to the statement released on its official Facebook, the EFCC said, “Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCC for offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 Billion,” the EFCC said in a Thursday evening post on its Facebook page it captioned “Ex-Gov Yahaya Bello Wanted By the EFCC”.

“Anybody with information as to his whereabouts should report immediately to the Commission or the nearest police Station.”

The report earlier gathered that the anti-graft agency warned that it may employ military intervention to locate and apprehend the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who has been evading capture.

Over the past weeks, the commission and the ex-governor have played a cat-and-mouse game.

Despite attempting to arrest Bello at his Abuja residence, the EFCC faced obstacles preventing his apprehension.

Reports suggest that the ex-governor might have sought refuge in the Kogi State Government House, taking advantage of Governor Ahmed Ododo’s immunity under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.

On Thursday, during the proceedings, the EFCC’s Counsel, Mr Kemi Pinheiro, stated to the court that the commission is committed to ensuring Bello faces trial, even if involving the military to apprehend him.

He said, “We may have to invite the military to move Yahaya Bello out of where he is hiding.

“We may have to engage the military to force him out because immunity does not cover him where he is hiding.

“No one is above the law. Immunity covers only the governor and not everyone around him.”

EFCC declares ex-Kogi Gov Yahaya Bello wanted

EFCC

Court orders EFCC to release or produce Emefiele Nov. 6

Published

7 months ago

November 3, 2023

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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.

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

Court

Again, EFCC boss, Bawa remanded

Published

1 year ago

February 6, 2023

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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.

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