• * 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.

By Zainab Yusuf (Financial Crime Editor)

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Thursday, December 3, 2020, adjourned till February 22, 2021 for continued trial of Jide Omokore, two of his companies, Atlantic Energy Brass Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, as well as Victor Briggs, former managing director, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC and Membere Abiye for alleged oil fraud involving Omokore’s companies in respect of a Strategic Alliance Agreement on OML 26, 30, 34 & 42. The defendants are facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on amended nine-count charge, bordering on alleged money laundering and procurement fraud to the tune of $1.6billion.

At the resumed trial on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, prosecution witness, Abdulrasheed Bawa, who is an investigator with the EFCC, while being led in evidence by Adebisi Adeniyi, told the court that Omokore, (the first defendant) bought properties for former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The properties, Penthouse 22, Block B, No 8, Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos and Penthouse 21, Block C5, Bella Vista Estate, Banana Island, Lagos, he said, were purchased at the cost of $1,194,000 and $3,570,000 respectively.

He tendered the documents in respect of the properties and they were admitted in evidence.

The two properties, however, were in 2018, forfeited to the Federal Government through an Order of a Federal High Court, Lagos, upon a proceeding, initiated by the EFCC.

Justice Dimgba adjourned the case upon mention, to enable the counsel, who flew in from outside Abuja to catch up with their flights, ordering that the passports of the fourth and fifth defendants (Briggs and Abiye), respectively be released to them to enable them travel, stating that the passports must be returned to the court on or before the adjourned date. NNL.

• * Counsel Withdraws Services From Maina's Son As Court Adjourns Case To December 8

By Zainab Yusuf (Financial Crime Editor)

Justice Okong Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, December 4, 2020, gave an order for the remand of ex-chairman, Pension Reform Task Team, (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina in prison custody till the end of his trial, and adjourned the matter till December 8, 2020 upon application by a new defence counsel, Adaji Abel.

• * Also Says Usoro Paid Akwa-Ibom Attorney General N65m

By Sam Ejiogu (Lagos State Correspondent)

The second prosecution witness, PW2, Abdulrahman Arabo, in the ongoing trial of Paul Usoro, SAN, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, for alleged N1.4bn fraud, on Wednesday 3, 2020, told Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos how the defendant received a sum of N1.1bn from the Akwa-Ibom State government.