EFCC Stories

Man Bags 7 Years in Prison for Visa Scam

Justice J K Omotosho of the Federal High Court Kano, today convicted a school teacher, Idris Buhari and sentenced him to 7 years imprisonment for offences bordering on obtaining by false pretence.

The convict who was prosecuted on a three count charge brought against im by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  was arrested following a complaint by Abdullahi Salisu Muhammad alleging that he gave the convict the sum of N500,000.00 for the processing of Hajj ticket in April, 2012, after he presented himself as a registered travelling agent. But the convict allegedly diverted the funds to his personal use and all efforts to recover the money or get the ticket were futile

Part of the charge reads, “that you Idris Buhari sometime in April 2012 at Kano within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court  with intend to defraud did obtain the sum of N500,000.00 cash from one Abdullahi Salisu Muhammad on the pretence that you are a registered travel agent licensed to provide visa and tickets for intending travellers for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1a, (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2016 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”. 

He pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him. Justice Omotosho consequently convicted and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment. 

He convict however received an option of N200, 000.00 fine considering the fact that he had restituted the victim the sum of N500,000.00

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Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

30th June, 2016

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EFCC Arraigns Man for N11.5m Visa Scam

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, June 29, 2016 arraigned Abdulsalam Goni Sanda before Justice Olubunmi Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja on a 4-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N11,450,000.00 (eleven million, four hundred and fifty thousand naira).

Sanda was alleged to have presented himself as an adhoc staff with the Saudi Arabian Embassy and also a travel agent with the capacity to secure visa for the complainant, one Bello Isah and 49 others who wanted to perform the 2014 hajj.

 

However, the suspect gave the petitioners photocopies of the visas and asked for full payment after which he promised that they will get the original copy from one Musa Ibrahim. The said Ibrahim collected the photocopies from the complainant and vanished into the thin air.

 

Efforts to get him or recover the money proved abortive.

One of the charges reads:

“Abdulsalam Goni Sanda, on about the 22nd day of September, 2014 in Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of N1, 000, 000 (One million naira only) from the Traveler Enterprise Limited being part payment of the total sum of N11,450,000.00 (eleven million, four hundred and fifty thousand naira) with the false pretence that the money would be used for the procurement of visas and other travelling documents for various intending pilgrims for 2014 Hajj Pilgrimage”.

 

The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.

In view of his plea, prosecuting counsel, Cosmos Ugwu asked the court for a date for trial. 

Counsel to the accused person, M. M. Gumsuri urged the court to grant the accused to bail.

Justice Banjoko, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N5million with two sureties in like sum. The sureties may be ordinary citizens resident in Abuja.

The case is adjourned to September 27, 2016 for trial.

 

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

30th June, 2016

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N2.9bn Fraud: Ex-Adamawa Gov, Fintiri Docked, Remanded In prison

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, June 30, 2016, arraigned Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and Mayim Construction and Properties Limited before Justice A.R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on a 5-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N2.9billion.

Fintiri, a former speaker, who also served briefly as the acting Governor of Adamawa State, allegedly laundered monies through his naira and dollar accounts domiciled at Ecobank Plc., and making a large cash payment for the purchase of a property at Plot Number 7, Gana Street , Maitama, Abuja.

Count 4 of the charge reads:

“That you, Ahmadu Umaru (Alias Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri) and Mayim Construction and Properties Limited on or about the 9th October 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did indirectly disguise the origin of the aggregate sum of N550,000,000 (Five Hundred and Fifty Million naira) through a term loan of twelve months purportedly granted to you by Ecobank Plc for the acquisition of a tea plantation farm from Nigeria Agricultural Bank in Taraba State which loan you repaid within three months as acting Governor of Adamawa State from sum which you know form part of proceeds of unlawful act to wit: corruption and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(a) of the Money laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) and (4) of the same Act.”

Upon the reading of the charges, the first defendant, Fintiri pleaded not guilty, while a plea of ‘not guilty’ was also entered for Mayim Construction and Properties Limited, pursuant to the provisions of Section 478 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

In view of the pleas by the accused, counsel to EFCC, Aso Larrys Peters, requested for a date for commencement of trial, and that the defendant be remanded in prison custody.

However, counsel to the first and second defendants, Mahmud Abubakar Magaji, SAN, informed the court that he had a pending motion dated June 24, 2016 and filed on June 27, 2016 seeking for release of the defendant

on bail.

This was opposed by the prosecution who noted that the motion, which represented just the first defendant, sought to remove the second defendant from the matter.

"This is a criminal trial and it is fundamental that all processes before your lordship carries the appropriate parties. We have not amended the charge and your lordship has not ordered us to do so. The motion filed by the defence is a deliberate attempt to amend the charges, confuse and frustrate court processes", Peters kicked.

Referring to precedents, the prosecution requested that the court discountenance the application, describing it as incompetent.

However, his objection was overruled.

Consequently, the defence moved its application.

In his argument, Magaji stated that since the prosecution had deposed to a six-paragraph counter affidavit to the effect that investigations into the matter had been concluded and  the defendant had been on administrative bail of the EFCC, the defendant was not likely to jump bail and would always be available for trial. 

The defence further presented exhibit MAM1 to the effect that the defendant was physically unwell.

Again, the motion was opposed by the prosecution, who pointed out that the exhibit MAM1 tendered alongside the defence's motion claimed that the defendant went for a physical examination on June 9, 2016, and was diagnosed with heart-related ailments and hypertension.

By this, the prosecution noted that, "It doesn't follow that results of tests can be issued before a consultation. On that date, the defendant was in the custody of the EFCC and only released by June 15, 2016, on administrative bail.

"Somebody is lying under oath. If your lordship grants bail, we are not sure that this matter will continue”, Peters submitted.

He urged that the discretion of court should be exercised judiciously based on material evidence before the court.

Thereafter, Justice Mohammed adjourned to July 1, 2016 for ruling on the bail application and ordered the defendant to be remanded in Kuje prison custody.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

30th June, 2016

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Court Dismisses Ohakim’s No-Case Submission

Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, June 30, 2016, dismissed a no-case submission filed by a former Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim, through his counsel, Awa Kalu, SAN, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Ohakim is facing trial for allegedly making a cash payment to the tune of $2, 290,000.00 (about N270,000,000) for the purchase of a property situated at Plot 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, otherwise known as Number 60, Kwame Nkurumah Street, Asokoro in Abuja.

 

One of the counts reads:   “That you, Ikedi Ohakim, on or about the January 26, 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, while under arrest for an offence under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act, 2004 knowingly failed to make a full disclosure of your assets by not declaring your ownership of the property known and described as Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District- it is also known as No.60, Kwame Nkurumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27(3)(c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act, 2004 and punishable under the same section.”

The former governor had pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge when it was read to him. 

Consequently, the prosecution presented a number of witnesses and tendered several documents, which were admitted in evidence, to prove its case against the defendant, before it closed its case.

However, at the last hearing on June 6, 2016, the defence filed a no-case submission against the prosecution. 

In his ruling today, Justice Ademola stated that the prosecution had been able to establish its case against the defendant.

The case has been adjourned to October 10 and 13, 2016 for the commencement of the defence.

 

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

30th June, 2016