Tag: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Court jails five internet fraudsters in Benin

The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction of five internet fraudsters before Justice M. Itsueli of the Edo State High Court in Benin City.

This was disclosed in a statement by the anti-graft agency on Wednesday , noting that credible intelligence exposed their involvements in fraudulent internet activities

The convicts, Ayo Korede, Ogbemudia Osaretin, Harry Ehimien, Osasumwen Osahenator and Efosa Richard, were prosecuted on separate one-count charges bordering on impersonation, obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime, and possession of fraudulent documents.

One of the charges read: “That you Ogbemudia Osaretin on or about the 31st of July, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession, in your iPhone 14 Pro Max, documents which you knew or ought to have known contained a false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

All the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges. Prosecution counsel I. M. Elodi, I. K. Agwai, K. Y. Bello, A. A. Ibrahim, Ibrahim Faisal and M. S. Dahiru urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while defence counsel appealed for leniency, saying the convicts were remorseful.

Justice Itsueli sentenced Korede, Osaretin, Osahenator and Richard to two years in prison each or a fine of N200,000, while Ehimien was given two years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000, with an option of community service.

The EFCC said,”All the convicts forfeited their phones, laptop computers and balances in their respective bank accounts, being the tools and proceeds of their crimes, to the federal government, and further undertook in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.” (Punch)

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Atiku condemns Tambuwal’s arrest, says EFCC now a political tool

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of weaponising anti-corruption agencies to pressure opposition leaders into defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, Atiku lamented that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been turned into a political tool.

On Monday, the EFCC detentained former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal over alleged financial misconduct, it also invited former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha over corruption allegations during his brief tenure.

Reacting, Atiku claimed Tambuwal’s detention was solely because he is a member of the coalition seeking to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

He stated, “The only reason the EFCC has detained the former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, is because he is a member of the opposition Coalition. It is a continuation of the Tinubu-led administration’s agenda to harrass, intimidate, and decimate the opposition.

“The reality unfolding before us today is that the Tinubu administration, as with other aspects, has objectified the fight against corruption as a political tool to coerce opposition leaders into the ruling party.

“We are living witnesses to a growing trend where the state and its operators have assumed the roles of a bully by making corruption and the fight against it a political agenda.

“Certainly, that is not the objective for which I worked hard during our administration to create the EFCC.”

Atiku stressed that while fighting corruption needs everyone’s support, using it as a political weapon must be condemned by civil society and Nigeria’s international partners.

The statement read in part, “It is as though today, anyone who associates with the opposition is a target for phantom corruption allegations and, it is as though, as soon as they are coerced into the political agenda of President Tinubu, their ‘sins’ are forgiven.

“That, definitely, is not how to build institutions. That, certainly, is not how to fight the monster of corruption. Indeed, such tendencies provide the stimulant for corruption to thrive

“We have seen how the EFCC has been used to empty opposition state governors into the ruling party, and the tea party is not about to end anytime soon.

“While the genuine fight against corruption is a matter that requires the total support of all Nigerians, the objectification of it as a political agenda should be roundly condemned by all in civil society spaces and friends of Nigeria in the international community.

Atiku vowed that opposition leaders would resist any anti-democratic attempts to force the nation into a one-party dictatorship. (Punch)

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Lagos LG election peaceful, says EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has described Saturday’s local government election in Lagos State as peaceful and orderly.

The Acting Zonal Director of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, ACE I Ahmed Ghali, gave the assessment while monitoring the election process across various polling units in the state.

He said, “From the report and information we have gathered; because our people are everywhere monitoring the situation; everything is going peacefully, and you can see the area is so calm.

“There is no incident report yet, and we are happy with that development.”

He acknowledged minor delays in some areas due to the movement of election materials but described them as understandable.

Ghali also commended the conduct of voters, electoral officials, and security personnel, noting that no signs of malpractice had been observed.

“Everyone is conducting very well. People are coming and going. I have not seen any sign of malpractice and you can see the conduct of the officials is also professional. The security men are alert and doing their job,” he said.

The anti-graft agency said it will continue to observe the election process until voting is concluded. (Punch)