By Prieye Dickson (Bayelsa State Correspondent)

Justice Jane Inyang of the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has convicted and sentenced Felix David Diete to four years imprisonment, for stealing the sum of N2,000,000. 00( Two Million Naira only).

By Hassan Umar Gombe (Gombe State Correspondent)

By Muktar Bello (Kaduna State Correspondent)

The Kaduna Zonal OffIce of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, arraigned one Mohammed Tukur Kuddaya before Justice Darius Khobo of State High Court sitting in Kaduna on three counts charges that borders on obtaining by false pretenses.

By Dare Ajayi (Oyo State Correspondent)

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office, on Monday, January 11, 2021, secured the conviction of two internet fraudsters before Justice Omolara Adeyemi of the Oyo State High Court 12, Ibadan.

By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)@CeleOkaf11

The money laundering trial of a former minister of justice and attorney general of the federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke could not go on today owing to his absence in court.

By Dare Ajayi (Oyo State Correspondent)

A 35-year-old bartender, Godwin Job, was on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, sentenced to eight years in prison for illegally withdrawing the sum of N1,079,290 (One million, Seventy-Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Ninety Naira) from a Fidelity Bank account belonging to his boss, Olufemi Joseph Odusanya.

By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)@CeleOkaf11

Nigeria's Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has commended the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for its contribution to the development of the Integrity Action Plan for Nigeria’s seaports.

By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)

Justice Mikail Aliyu of the Niger State High Court has on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, adjourned for a definite hearing the trial of former Niger State Governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, Tanko Beji, and Umar Muhammed Nasko.

* Witness Narrates How He Built Houses With Crime Proceeds In Ilorin

By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)

The trial of a self-styled herbalist, Alfa Jamiu Isiaka, who allegedly impersonated the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina and a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Maikanti Baru, to defraud a South Korean National, Keun Sig Kim to the tune of N30million, resumed on December 15, 2020, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, recalling its star witness, Dare Folarin.

The 31-year-old Alfa, while parading as senior government official deceived the foreign national to collect various sums of money to the tune of N30million under the pretext of securing for him an NNPC approval/ marketing form and license certificate to buy crude oil in Nigeria.

In the course of interrogation, Alfa Jamiu claimed that he used the money to conduct sacrifice for the petitioner. According to him, part of the money was used to buy vulture, elephant skin, elephant intestine, the skull of a lion and liver of gorilla.

The Ilorin Zonal Office of the EFCC had on June 14, 2019, arraigned Alfa Jamiu on a four-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, impersonation and forgery of documents before Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin.

The court, however, turned down his bail application and ordered his remand at the NigerianCorrectional Centre, Mandala.

In the course of the trial, the EFCC presented witnesses and tendered various documents which were admitted in evidence by the court.

Consequently, the prosecution closed its case, setting the stage for the defendant to open its defence.

However, the Commission received fresh intelligence on the matter, which led to new discoveries. Hence, the prosecution sought leave of the Court to tender in evidence records of its new findings. The application was graciously granted by the court.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, counsel to the EFCC, O. B Akinsola said: "My Lord, you will recall that this court had earlier granted our application to recall the officer who investigated this case. The witness is in court, ready to testify."

Testifying, the witness, Dare Folarin, narrated how intelligence received shortly after the Commission closed its case led to new discoveries on the matter. According to him, further investigations on the intelligence received revealed that the defendant, among other things, used part of the money he fraudulently collected from Keun Sig Kim to acquire properties in Ilorin.

"My Lord, after the Commission closed its case, based on intelligence reports, we discovered a mighty residential building built by the defendant, Jamiu Isiaka, at Oke-Fomo area of Ilorin.

"We were able to establish that Alfa Jamiu is the original owner of the said property. Part of the money he collected from a South Korean National, Keun Sig Kim was used to build the house", Folarin stated.

Pictures of the said house were tendered and admitted as exhibits by the court.

Thereafter, Justice Abdulgafar adjourned until January 21, 2021, for the defendant to open its defence. NNL.

• * Arrests Varsity Student For N850,000 Investment Scam

By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Saturday, December 12, 2020, emerged best cybercrime Prevention agency in Nigeria at the second Security and Emergency Management Award (SAEMA). The accolade was earned by the Ibadan zonal office of the EFCC which was recognized for its zeal in combating cybercrimes.

Receiving the award on behalf of the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Mohammad Abba Umar, Head of the Ibadan Zonal Office, Kanu Idagu, thanked the organizers for recognizing the work of the Commission.

“We work to make sure we exceed our limits. Whatever we do this year, with this encouragement, definitely the staff will be motivated to do more”, he said.

Idagu stressed that the Commission cannot sit and watch the reputation of the country being tarnished by criminals adding that the EFCC will not relent in arresting and ensuring discreet prosecution of such criminals.

The event which took place at the Nicon Luxury Hotels, Abuja was the second in series after the median edition, last year,

SAEMA is an initiative of Emergency Digest, a subsidiary of Image Merchants Limited.

According to the organizers, a total of 254 entries were received for all the categories out of which, 136 nominees qualified for the competition, and 54 finalists were selected by the jury from which 18 winners of the 18 categories emerged, including the EFCC.

Meanwhile, the EFCC Operatives of the Port Harcourt Zonal Office, have arrested an undergraduate, Nnamdi Henry Chimezulem a.k.a. Dessey Marvel, for running a phony investment scheme and in the process, defrauding his victims a sum of N850,000 (Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only).

He was arrested December 3, at Omuoda Lane, Aluu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State based on the claims of a petitioner alleging his fraudulent dealings through his firm: Skyworld Investment Limited.

One of Chimezulem's victims, Ukoro Blessing alleged that, sometime in July 2020, he approached her with an online foreign exchange business with an assurance of fifty percent (50%) returns on investment within two (2) weeks.

This offer, Blessing said, made many unsuspecting members of the public invest in Chimezulem's platform and got defrauded. A total sum of N850,000 has so far been traced to him.

The suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded. NNL.

By Abdulrasaq Ali (Kwara State Correspondent)

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), have pledged to deepen collaboration in a bid to fight all manners of graft in Nigeria.

By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has advised the media not to focus only on reporting the enforcement mandate of the Commission.