Breaking: EFCC Arraigned APC Chieftain, And Was Remanded For N36M Fraud

EFCC arraigned a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Prince Benjamin Benedict Apugo before Justice Osiagor of the Federal High Court ,Umuahia Abia State on a charge of obtaining N36.000,000.00 (Thirty Six Million Naira Only) by false pretence.


Apugo pleaded not guilty to the charges prompting the prosecution led by Joshua Saidu to apply for a trial date while praying that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending trial.

Also, the defence counsel, R.M Udechukwu (SAN) pleaded with the court to allow the accused to continue with the administrative bail granted him by EFCC. He had unsuccessfully argued against the arraignment of his client based on the pending appeal, challenging the jurisdiction of court.

The court however granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira Only) including two sureties in like sum. These two Sureties, according to the court must be senior civil servants not less than deputy director with one of them having a landed property within Umuahia metropolis who must deposit the title documents with the court registrar.

The judge further give order that both counsel, together with the court registrar ,shall also verify the sureties and ordered Chief Apugo to be remanded in prison custody pending fulfilment of bail conditions.

Apugo who had earlier stormed the court with several security vehicles and  armed mobile policemen from the Special Protection Units of the Nigeria Police, a development prompting the judge to demand that they move out of the court premises citing security concerns.

Apugo’s arraignment was sequel to his arrest on Friday September 30, 2016 by EFCC following a warrant issued by the court which considered his numerous attempt to evade taking a plea on the charge preferred against him. He was alleged to have fraudulently sold six (6) plots of land valued at N36.000,000 (Thirty Six Million Naira Only) belonging to the Nigeria Railway Cooperation located at Umunwulari Nkata Ibeku layout, Planning Scheme Umuahia.

The case was adjourned to 17th and 18th November for trial.

Breaking: EFCC Arraign Illegal Polytechnic Operator In Ekiti State

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC arraigned one Johnson Babatola today Monday 10, October 2016 before Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ado- Ekiti, Ekiti State. He was arraign on a 7-count charge bordering on Advance fee fraud and operation of illegal Polytechnic.


The  defendant however pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him. Mr. Babatola who was a former Principal Manager of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Ado-Ekiti branch was arrested following a petition from the National Board for Technical Education, Kaduna, alleging that he was operating an illegal Polytechnic named Teedek Polytechnic at Ilogbo, Ekiti State and extorting gullible students who are not aware of the status of the institution. #illegalpolytechnic. #EFCC. #Fraud

Fraud Alert! EFCC Arrest FUTA Vice Chancellor, Bursar Over Abuse Of Office And Misappropriation Of Funds

Professor Adebiyi Daramola, Vice Chancellor Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State and the Bursar, Emmanuel Ademola Oresegun, are being investigated at the Iyaganku office of the EFCC in respect of an alleged case of Abuse of Office and misappropriation of funds reported against them.


According to the petition submitted to the EFCC, it was alleged that the duo were involved in “Corruption, Fraud, Criminal Breach of Trust, Unlawful Enrichment and Conversion of millions of Naira of the University”.

The Vice Chancellor allegedly drew Furniture Allowance annually instead of once in 4 years as approved and was paying himself Housing Allowance while residing in the University’s Vice Chancellor’s Quarters. The petition further alleged that he diverted funds from various unrelated subheads to finance other projects without the appropriate approvals for such virement.

They are still undergoing interrogation as at report of this news.

Four Companies Linked To Former 1st Lady Dame Patience Jonathan Pleaded Guilty To Fraud Charges Over $15m Scam

Four companies: Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Ltd, and Avalon Global Property Development Company Ltd, allegedly linked to Dame Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan in a $15million money laundering case today pleaded guilty before Justice Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court, Lagos.


But  Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel Dudafa, former adviser on domestic affairs to President Jonathan; Amajuoyi Azubuike Briggs, another former presidential aide and Adedamola Bolodeoku, former official of Skye bank  pleaded not guilty.

The defendants are alleged to have fraudulently received and retained various sums of money being proceeds of crime. The first accused, Dr.  Waripamo- Owei Emmanuel  in grand conspiracy with one Sompre Omiebi and others,  allegedly procured the services of Adedamola Bolodeoku of Skye Bank Plc to launder and retain the proceeds of their unlawful activities to the tune of $15,591,700 (Fifteen million, five hundred and ninety one thousand, seven hundred United States Dollars).

One of the counts read:  “That you Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel Dudafa, Amajuoyi Azubuike Briggs, Adedamola Bolodeoku, Sompre Omiebi (still at large)  Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Ltd, and Avalon Global Property Development Company Ltd on or about the 13th day of November, 2013 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: retain the total sum of $15,591, 700.00 (Fifteen Million, Five Hundred and Ninety One Thousand, Seven Hundred United State Dollars) which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) of  the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act”.

In view of the plea of the defendants, Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo informed the court that he was ready to review the facts of the case. According to Oyedepo, “ my lord, the fourth to seventh defendants have by their plea admitted the essential ingredients of the charges against them”. He further asked the court to use its discretion on the issue of bail, but however prayed the court that if  bail is granted, it should come with conditions that will secure the defendants attendance at trial.

Counsel to the first defendant, Gboyega Oyewole, prayed the court to allow the first defendant enjoy the bail granted to him in another matter before a different Judge. He later moved his application for bail and prayed the court to grant his application on very liberal terms. Counsel to the second  and third defendants, Tochukwu Onyiuke and Joseph Okobielen also moved their applications for bail on liberal terms.

Justice Kuewumi after listening to counsel, granted the second and third defendants bail in the sum of N250 million each with a surety in like sum. The surety must own a landed property in Lagos State or be a Permanent Secretary in a Federal or State Ministry. The Surety shall deposit his international passports and three years tax clearance.

The case is adjourned till September 27, 2016.


Lawenciaudefi

Former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan Claims Ownership of $31.4 million Frozen In Bank Accounts

Former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, is claiming ownership of the $31.4 million involved in an alleged fraud case before a Federal High Court in Lagos. Counsel to the first defendant in charge, with case number FHC/337C/16, Mr. Gboyega Oduwole, informed the court that Mrs. Jonathan filed a fundamental application against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), claiming ownership of the money.


The EFCC had taken former presidential aide, Amajuoyi Azubike Briggs, former Skye Bank official, Damola Bolodeoku, Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited and Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited to court in an alleged $31.4 million fraud involving the companies without addresses...

Others also charged include Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited, Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited and Globus Integrated Services Limited.

According to an application filed on September 6, this year, with file number FHC/L/C5/1233/16, Mrs. Jonathan is asking the court to make an order for the enforcement of her fundamental rights, in terms of reliefs she sought, and naming as defendants, the EFCC and Skye Bank Plc.

The former first lady asked the court to make a declaration that the fund standing to the credit of four of the companies and an account in her own name in Skye Bank belonged to her. She also asked the court to declare that the action of the respondents in placing a No Debit/Freezing Order on the said accounts without any order of a competent court of law or prior notice to her, to be in breach of her fundamental rights as contained in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Source: lailablog