Ocean News

 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, closed its case against a former governor of Plateau State, Jonah David Jang and a former cashier in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (OSSG), Yusuf Pam before Justice C. L. Dabup of Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos. The case was closed after the Commission presented fourteen witnesses and tendered several exhibits. Jang and Pam are facing trial for alleged criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of Plateau State funds to the tune of N6.3 billion. At the last sitting,  the EFCC had presented its fourteenth witness (PW14), a Chief Superintendent of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Commission (ICPC),   Taiwo Oloronyomi, who testified against the defendants. But while tendering the statement in evidence, the second defendant’s  counsel, S. Olawale, raised objection, arguing that the statement of his client to the ICPC was not volu...

Former member of the House of Representatives, Chief Marcellinus Chuma Nzeribe, has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.  Nzeribe was convicted for fraud in absentia by Justice Yusuf Y. Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja on May 23, 2022.  The Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement on Monday, May 30, said Nzeribe, 62, jumped the court bail granted to him by the FCT High Court, Maitama and has since not been seen.  "His last known address is at Block M7, Flat 8, NNPC Housing Estate, Area 11, Garki, Abuja," the spokesperson stated. Uwujaren called on the general public to assist in apprehending former lawmaker. "Anyone with useful information as to his whereabout should please contact the Commission in its offices or report to the nearest Police Station and other security agencies" he added. Nzeribe was first arraigned by the EFCC on October 16, 2020, on a four-cou...

The trial of Ismaila Mustapha, also known as Mompha, and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos continued on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, with both the prosecution and defence giving the court the "report" on the plea bargain being worked on. Mompha was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC on January 12, 2022 on eight counts bordering on conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity, failure to disclose assets and property, possession of documents containing false pretence and use of property derived from unlawful act.  One of the counts reads: "Ismaila Mustapha, Ahmadu Mohammed (at large) and Ismalob Global Investment Limited, sometime in 2016, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to conduct financial tran...

The ex-governor was arrested last week at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, as he was preparing to board a flight to Houston, the United States. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Wednesday evening released Willie Obiano, former governor of Anambra State, on bail Mr Obiano’s passport was withheld as part of the bail conditions. The ex-governor was arrested last week at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, as he was preparing to board a flight to Houston, the United States. The arrest was said to have taken place at about 8.30p.m. last Thursday, hours after he left office as governor and, thus, lost his immunity from arrest and prosecution. Mr Obiano, who had been on the EFCC’s watchlist for some time, was arrested over corruption allegations. “Obiano was arrested for alleged misappropriation of public funds, including, N5 billion Sure-P and N37 billion security vote which was withdrawn in cash. Part of the funds was also allegedly diverte...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a Dubai-based internet celebrity, Ismailia Mustapha, aka Mompha and his firm, Ismalob Global Investment Limited for alleged money laundering to the tune of over N6billion. The agency arraigned Mompha and Ismalob before Justice Mojisola Dada of an Ikeja Special Offences Court on eight counts bordering on the offences. The defendants were accused of conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity, retention of such funds, transfer of funds for a suspect Olayinka Jimoh a.k.a Nappy Boy, and unlawful transfer of funds for a record label, among others. The sums named in the charge seen by The Nation are N5,998,884.653.18, N32million, N120million and N15,960,000, totalling over N6billion. The EFCC also alleged that Mompha concealed his interest in expensive wristwatches and other movable assets valued at over N70million. Mompha pleaded “Not guilty” to the eight counts while Islamob Limited (represented by Mompha)...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arrested businessman and suspected internet fraudster, Ismailia Mustapha better known as Mompha. EFCC Head of Media, Wilson Uwujaren in a statement said Mompha was arrested on Monday, January 10, 2022 for “laundering funds” obtained through unlawful activities and retention of alleged proceeds of crime. Mompha is already standing trial alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited. They face an amended 22-count charge bordering on cyber fr#ud and money laundering to the tune of N32.9billion. Mompha was first nabbed on October 18, 2019 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport while boarding an Emirates flight to Dubai. He was then taken into custody by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) following a watchlist by the EFCC. Mompha is alleged to have used his companies to receive illicit funds on behalf of ‘Yahoo Yahoo boys’ from across the world in return for commission/percentage. “Investigation has revealed a fr#...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has arrested another suspect at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, with 576 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards. The commission, in a statement by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, on Tuesday, said the fresh arrest came barely two hours after securing the conviction of three suspects arrested with 1,144 ATM cards at the same airport. The suspect, Khalil Bashir Lawal, was intercepted on Monday, December 20, 2021, by operatives of the commission in collaboration with Nigeria Aviation security and Nigeria Customs Service under the aegis of Special Task Force on Money Laundering. Upon his arrest, it was discovered that Khalil, who was traveling to Uganda with Ethiopian Airline had concealed 576 ATM cards bearing different names and banks in his luggage. A statement by EFCC said the suspect will be charged to court as soon as the investigation was concluded.  

Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested one Ajayi Oluwabukola Temitope, for allegedly obtaining money to the tune of N24,955,000.00 (Twenty Four Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Five Thousand Naira) by false pretence. The 42-year-old Ibadan socialite was arrested following a series of petitions  in which the suspect who claims to be a registered dealer with soft drinks manufacturers in Ibadan, Oyo state promised to supply products to complaints but failed after collecting money from them.

  Operatives of the Lagos Command of the EFCC have arrested 60 suspected internet fraudsters during an awards ceremony at the Conference Hotel in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The event tagged “Peer Youths Awards”, investigation revealed, was organized to reward high-level internet fraudsters. Items recovered from the suspects at the point of arrest include exotic cars, electronic devices, laptop computers and mobile phones. The suspects will soon be charged to court.

Former Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo has refuted claims that he is in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC). In an exclusive interview with The Source magazine on Monday, the seasoned banker who was recently appointed GMD of First Bank Holding Company said “I cannot be in my bedroom and somebody somewhere will be saying, EFCC has arrested me and that I have be in custody’ of the anti-graft commission for days”. The magazine had, last week, reported that the former Fidelity Chief executive was not arrested by the Abdulrasheed Bawa led EFCC, following report by some online publications that he was indeed, taken into custody by the commission. Premium Times, an online newspaper claimed that “details of Mr Okonkwo’s arrest remained sketchy Sunday night although some sources said he was being questioned over his role in the transfer of $153.3 million from the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission in favour of Diezani Alison-Madueke, Ni...

  The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, October 25, 2021 secured the conviction and sentencing of one Nuhu Mohammed Lawan to three months imprisonment before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri for his involvement in a N1.1million (One Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira) employment scam. The convict who is a staff of the Federal Public Complaints Commission in Borno State was prosecuted on one-count charge of ‘‘cheating’’.