Breaking: EFCC seizes Barrister George Turnah's second property in Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has seized another property from George Turnah, a godson to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The property, which is located at Citec Estate, Gwarinpa, Abuja, is a duplex. Although the EFCC has yet to evaluate the value of the property, sources told our correspondent that such property would go for between N70m and N100m.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the inscription, ‘EFCC, Keep off’ was seen across the fence and the gate of the building.

The commission is still tracing Turnah’s remaining properties.

Last week, the anti-graft agency seized a mansion and some other properties allegedly traced to Turnah who is standing trial for an alleged N3bn fraud.

The commission also froze about seven bank accounts through which Turnah allegedly received billions of naira.

Justice Ibrahim Watilat had granted the interim forfeiture order based on an application filed before the court by the EFCC’s counsel, Adebola Olatunji.

Turnah, together with seven companies, were arraigned on 12 charges bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, money laundering and abuse of office to the tune of N3, 094, 268, 235.69.

Meanwhile, some aggrieved youths in Bayelsa State on Tuesday staged a peaceful demonstration in Yenagoa, the state capital, in support of the EFCC.

The youths, particularly commended the anti-graft agency for the arrest and detention of  Turner.

On Tuesday, the angry youths, under the aegis of the Concerned Citizens of Bayelsa State, led by their coordinators, Chief Harrow Zuokomor and Mr. Abule Bethel, said Bayelsa was still in shock at the magnitude of funds seized from Turner by the EFCC.

The youths were armed with placards bearing inscriptions such as, ‘We thank the EFCC for exposing corrupt persons,’ ‘Enemies of Niger Delta exposed,’ ‘Well done EFCC’ and ‘George Turner impoverished Bayelsa State.’

The protesters, who started the solidarity march from the popular Ekeki Park to the state House of Assembly Complex and the Headquarters of the State Police Command, noted that they had read and seen reports of the funds allegedly diverted by Turner.

They pleaded with the EFCC to consider returning the money to the state.

Zuokomor, while submitting the group’s petition to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Asuquo Amba, for onward submission to the EFCC, expressed concern over the level of corruption among political appointees.

Addressing the demonstrators, Asuquo promised to deliver their message to the appropriate authorities.

Femi Fani Kayode re-arraigned by EFCC before the federal high court

The former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has been arraigned Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC ) before a Lagos Division of the Federal High Court.

Mr. Fani-Kayode, who was part of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election campaign, was rearraigned alongside Nenadi Usman, a former minister of state for finance on a 17-count charge of money laundering and alleged diversion of N4.6 billion.

Others include one Danjuma Yusuf and a company, Joint Trust Dimension Nig. Ltd.

The defendants pleaded not guilty before Justice Rilwan Aikawa, a new judge.

The judge had taken over trial after Mr. Fani-Kayode applied for the previous one, Muslim Hassan, to recuse himself from the trial on the grounds that he was the EFCC officer who signed a criminal charge filed against him.

FINANCIAL CRIME: EFCC docks suspected female fraudster for N3.92m job scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today arraigned one Eucharia Ekezie before Justice Olasumbo Olajumoke Goodluck of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on a ten-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence.
Ekezie, in connivance with one Hamid Bakoji (now at large), allegedly defrauded over seventy job applicants to the tune of N3.920million under the pretext that the money would be used to facilitate employments for them in various federal government establishments including Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Communication Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service and National Assembly.

The offence contravenes Section 8 (a) and 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
One of the counts reads:

“That you, Mrs. Eucharia Ekezie and Hamid Bakoji (now at large), sometime between the 15/10/2012 and 06/12/12 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, with the intent to defraud, did obtain an aggregate sum of N1, 120, 000.00 (One Million, One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira) via your Skye Bank account No. 1018539796 from one Eze Gereldine Uzoamaka under the false pretence that the said sum will be used to secure employments for some job applicants in Federal Government establishment, which you knew was false and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”The defendant pleaded not guilty the charge. In view of her plea, counsel to EFCC, Chris Omisaga urged the court to fix a date for trial. However, Ekezie’s counsel, C. S. Nwaogu told the court that he had a pending application for bail of his client and prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail. Justice Olasumbo Goodluck granted the accused bail in the sum of N2million with two sureties in like sum.

The sureties must be civil servants not below Grade Level 14. The defendant must also submit her international passport to the court Registrar.

The Judge, thereafter, adjourned to June 13-14, 2017 for hearing.

Nigerian Senate plans fresh showdown with Presidency

The Senate has perfected plans to withhold the confirmation of nominees by President Muhammadu Buhari as part of the lawmakers’ strategies for a showdown with the Presidency.

This is notwithstanding the recent move by the Presidency to reconcile with the Senate.

The upper chamber of the National Assembly is considering placing an “embargo” on approval of appointments by the President until the legislature and the executive resolved the lingering crisis between them.

It was gathered on Sunday that the Senate would make the move based on the recent comment by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who said he agreed with human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), that Section 171 of the Constitution empowers the President to make some appointments without National Assembly’s approval.

An impeccable source in the leadership of the Senate told our correspondent that a constitutional crisis was brewing in the country.

According to the source, the legislature and the executive have conflicting interpretation of the Constitution on their powers and responsibilities.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said while an intervention by the judiciary would be needed, the executive should go to court and not the legislature.

The Presidency and the Senate had clashed over the retention of Mr. Ibrahim Magu as acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission despite the rejection of his appointment by the legislature.

The Senate had, on March 28, 2017, suspended the consideration of the 27 nominees by the President as Resident Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission for two weeks.

The move was to protest the Presidency’s insistence on Magu as the acting Chairman of EFCC.

Osinbajo had ruled out the possibility of Buhari replacing Magu with another nominee, adding that the President did not find the DSS report, which was the basis for Magu’s rejection, as a strong reason to replace the EFCC boss.

He said despite being rejected twice, the government was still at liberty to renominate Magu.

Speaking to our correspondent on Sunday, the National Assembly source stated, “There is going to be a constitutional crisis in Nigeria because the Senate is now at a crossroads on what to do with the nominations made by the President for which he is seeking the confirmation by the Senate.

“Going by what Osinbajo said on Magu, it means that the nation’s Presidents from 1999, who sent nominations to the Senate for confirmation, had all breached the Constitution. Even Buhari, who has been sending nominations to the Senate, was not properly advised.”

Senate President Bukola Saraki had, at the plenary on Wednesday, read three letters from Buhari, seeking the confirmation of some of his appointments, including three non-career ambassadorial nominees,

The President, in another letter, sought confirmation of the appointment of five members for the board of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The President also wrote the Senate separately to seek the confirmation of the appointment of the Chairman, National Electricity Regulation Commission.

Also, the lawmakers have yet to screen and confirm the two ministerial nominees sent to the Senate by Buhari.

The source added, “They may not (be considered, including those of the CBN, NERC and others just sent to the Senate, because of the claims made by the Vice-President. He spoke as if he was speaking the mind of the President.

The source added, “They (Presidency) should proceed to court to seek endorsement for their position. It is their business to go to the court, not the Senate’s. The Vice President has already stalled the nomination and confirmation processes by his unguarded statements.

“He somehow agreed with Falana that there is no need for legislative confirmation for the appointments. With the Section 171 claim by the Vice-President, the Senate is now at a crossroads on whether to go on with the confirmation (of appointments) or adopt the new claim by the Presidency.

“The National Assembly follows established laws, which have been used for all dealings with the other arms of government. If they now have a contrary view, they should go to court.”

But a member of the Senate expressed his anger over the plan in an interview with our correspondent.

The All Progressives Congress lawmaker lamented that some recent decisions by the chamber were not enjoying the support of most members.

The lawmaker said, “Between you and I, that is rubbish. The issue of Magu is rubbish; the issue of (the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service) Hameed Ali is rubbish.

“If some of us insist on Magu’s removal and Ali should appear before the Senate in uniform, how does that put food on the table of Nigerians? And we are supposed to focus on what can improve the life of the average Nigerians; we are not doing that.  But we are busy with Ali, Magu and other issues. It is so unfortunate.”

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, could not be reached for comments on the latest development.

While he did not return our correspondent’s calls on Saturday, the lines indicated that they had been switched off on Sunday.

But the Vice-Chairman, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, said the Senate would address all issues relating to the relationship between the lawmakers and the Presidency.

He said, “By Tuesday, Senator Sabi (Abdullahi) will speak on the issue as reflected by the joint decision of the Senate. Nobody can take any individual position (on the matter); the Senate will take the position.”

When asked to speak as the deputy spokesman for the Senate, Murray-Bruce replied, “Sabi will take that position because I have not gotten any official communication from the Senate and I don’t have any opinion (on the matter).”

President Buhari had set up a reconciliatory committee chaired by Osinbajo, which has as members ministers, who were at a time, members of the National Assembly as members.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang; and Samaila Kawu (House of Representatives) are also members.

But while the Presidency said the panel had started to meet with the Senate leadership, Saraki had denied such meetings, saying the committee was not necessary.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, could not be reached for comments on Saturday and Sunday.

(Punchng)

House of Representatives want Buhari in court over EFCC act

The House of Representatives has urged the Presidency to seek interpretation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act before a court, following the Senate’s rejection of Mr Ibrahim Magu as Chairman.

The House also resolved that the executive should refrain from making statements that connote the usurpation of the judiciary’s powers considering it negative effects on the doctrine of separation of powers.

This followed a motion on Thursday in Abuja by Rep. Leo Ogor (Delta-PDP) on the “need to prevent erosion of the Doctrine of Separation of Power”.

Moving the motion, Ogor explained that by the clear provision of Section 2 (3) of the EFCC Act, the chairman of the anti-corruption agency shall be nominated by the President subject to the confirmation of the Senate.

“Convinced that the EFCC Act is an Act of the National Assembly that can only be set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction, and until that happens, the law remains in force and binding on all persons and authorities in the country.

“Furthermore, the Executive Arm of Government has not filed any proceeding in any court to challenge the provision of Section 2 (3) of the EFCC (established) Act of 2004.”

Ogor said that under the doctrine of separation of powers, the interpretation of the constitution and Acts of parliament was the sole responsibility of the judiciary and not that of any person or official of the other arms of government.

He said that the statement credited to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was capable of eroding the doctrine of separation of powers with its obvious implication of instituting a dictatorship in the country.

Contributing to the motion, Rep. Simon Arabo (Kaduna-APC), said that there was need by the executive to tow the line of separation of powers.

Also, Rep. Kingsley Chinda (Rivers-PDP), said that people should not continue to upgrade opinions to be actual facts.

“Government should be responsive and listen to the opinions of the masses,” he said.

The motion was unanimously adopted when it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara.

The House, therefore, mandated its Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure implementation of its resolution.

EFCC introduces anti-corruption course to universities

The Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu, says the commission will soon launch its anti-corruption programme in universities across the country.

Magu disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday on the sideline of the opening ceremony of a capacity building workshop on the use of beneficial ownership information and the recovery of assets in Africa.

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He said that the anti-corruption programme would be similar to that of “Women Against Corruption”.

“We are already talking with the universities; we are looking at starting with University of Lagos and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) where we will launch the programme.

“There is something on ground to also reach out to the universities as student’s union leaders have disturbed me over issues in the sector.

“The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) leadership visited me last week and this was part of their complaints.

“We assured them that we are going to join them and launch the anti-corruption programme and we need them too because we are protecting their future,“he said.

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On stolen assets, Magu said that government was working with global partners to fast-track the return of stolen assets abroad.

He said that the commission was planning to clamp down on tax evaders as part of plans to bring succour to the economy.

“We are going to collaborate with FIRS and set up a unit that will exclusively deal with tax fraud, tax evasion and related offences. We are going to see that we work on this seriously.

“We have just discussed it with the FIRS chairman; we will give the operatives a special training to operate very well,“Magu said.

He urged every Nigerian to be part of the fight against corruption, adding that the commission was making progress in the anti-corruption fight.

Mr Tunde Fowler, The Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), said that tax evasion was a global problem.

Fowler said that to succeed in Africa, given the economic challenges, stakeholders must join forces to block all revenue leakages.

He said that Africa had remained porous in terms of financial security, adding that the African Union (AU) had given a mandate that “we as tax officials should ensure that we generate enough money to secure its financial independence”.

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“The issue of tax is a global problem and the issue of revenue is equally a global problem.

“The only way that we can bring Africa out of the present economic situation is for us to join forces together, share best practices and hopefully be able to block up the leakages,’’ Fowler said.

The conference was jointly organised by the EFCC, FIRS and Ministry of Finance as well as international participants from Austria, Ghana and some other African countries.

BREAKING: EFCC arraigns Jonathan’s doctor for N258m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned Dr. Fortunate Fiberesima, the ex-Chief Physician to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The EFCC said in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, that Fiberesima, who is also a former Chief Executive Officer, State House Medical Centre, was arraigned for an alleged fraud of N258.9m.

The doctor was arraigned before Justice Peter Affen of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on six counts bordering on money laundering.

Fiberesima was alleged to have abused his position as the chief physician to the President in 2012 in awarding a contract to a company where he had an interest.

According to the anti-graft agency, the defendant, who also parades himself as Fortunate David and David ThankGod Fiberesima, was initially meant to be arraigned by the EFCC on March 7, but the trial judge observed that, “all the charges are under the ICPC Act and not that of the EFCC” and consequently ordered that the charge be either amended or transferred to the appropriate authority for prosecution.

At the resumed sitting on Tuesday, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against him by the EFCC.

One of the charges read,  “That you, Dr. Fortunate Fiberesima (a.k.a. Fortunate David and David ThankGod Fiberesima), being the former Chief Executive Officer of the State House Medical Centre, Abuja and Chief Physician to the President, while employed in the public service, sometime in 2012, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, knowingly and directly held a private interest in the contract for land reclamation at the State House Medical Centre, Abuja in the sum of N258,950,000, which contract was awarded to T. E. & C Limited, a company in which you were a director, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

Counsel for the defendant, U. B. Eyo, prayed the court to grant his client bail in liberal terms. He said the accused person had no previous criminal record and he would always be available for his trial.

Counsel for the EFCC, Y. Y. Tarfa, did not oppose the bail application.

Justice Affen ordered that the defendant should continue on the bail condition earlier granted him but added that he should submit his passport to the court registrar.

The case was, thereafter, adjourned till June 6, 2017 for commencement of trial.