President Jonathan’s blackmail is in full swing – and more in today’s news round-up with Cheta Nwanze

I think Mr. President should just tell us the truth, Christmas is round the corner, and money is needed to buy hampers. We won’t get angry, we are Nigerians. How una dey? As things are, the Presidential blackmail is on in full swing. Yesterday, the President presented a supplementary budget to the National Assembly seeking... Read More

Ali Ndume, EFCC, Emmanuel Uduaghan, kidnap, Luth, ngozi okonjo iweala, Wale Babalakin

December 11, 2012

N4 billion fraud: Former Kogi governor flees home to evade EFCC arrest

Efforts by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to arrest the former Kogi State governor, Abubakar Audu, on December 11, 2012, failed as the ex-governor had fled his 32 Suleiman Barau street, Aso Villa, Asokoro Abuja residence. The attempted arrest of the former governor who is being tried for fraudulently enriching himself... Read More

Abubakar Audu, EFCC, Governor, Kogi

December 11, 2012

No retreat: EFCC operatives sneak into Wale Babalakin’s room to arrest him

by Isi Esene The siege laid on the businessman, Wale Babalakin, by security operatives at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos seem not to be abating. Sources say there is an increased number of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives and riot policemen in the hospital premises. There are also speculations that... Read More

Bi-Courtney Group, Dipo Kehinde, EFCC, James Ibori, Luth, money laundering, Wale Babalakin

December 10, 2012

Security is now a serious concern – and more, in today’s news round-up with Cheta Nwanze

Despite a distinct lack of power to turn on the computers where they may exist in primary and secondary schools across the country, some egghead has decided to make ICT based exams compulsory for matriculation exams in Nigeria. Sad news yesterday, the mother of the coordinating minister for our economy has been kidnapped. This is... Read More

computer, EFCC, kidnap, Okonjo-Iweala, sports festival, Wale Babalakin

December 9, 2012

Opinion: Corruption – The 37th State of the Federation

by Theophilus Ilevbare “Corruption has become a state of the Federation, drawing its weekly and monthly allowances from the Federation Account unabashedly” – Lawyer, Fred Agbaje Lately, the Nigerian media has been awash with opinion, analysis and editorials on the spiralling rate of corruption especially under the President Goodluck Jonathan led administration. The war against... Read More

corruption, Edo, EFCC, Fred Agbaje, Goodluck Jonathan, Kole Omotosho, KPMG, nigeria, Ondo, Peter Odili

December 7, 2012

We have not arrested Babalakin, we’re just watching him – EFCC

by Akan Ido The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has denied arresting businessman and chairman of Bi-Courtney Group, Wale Babalakin who is currently on admission at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, Lagos. Speculations have been rife that the businessman, who is wanted by the EFCC over allegations of money laundering, has been... Read More

Bi-Courtney Group, Dipo Kehinde, EFCC, James Ibori, Luth, money laundering, Wale Babalakin

December 6, 2012

EFCC goes hard: 20 plain-clothes men wait for Wale Babalakin at his LUTH hospital ward

by Akan Ido The Bi-Courtney Group, has registered its displeasure at the conduct of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) who have reportedly laid siege on the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, where its Chairman, Wale Babalakin is receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment. The construction firm’s spokesman, Dipo Kehinde, says the... Read More

Akin Osibogun, Bi-Courtney, Dipo Kehinde, EFCC, Luth, Wale Babalakin, Wilson Uwujaren

December 4, 2012

FG declares total war on corruption: EFCC budget slashed by 50%

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, may be crippled next year if the Federal Government’s slashing of its 2013 budget proposal by N11.7 billion sails through the National Assembly. Already, EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Larmode, has expressed concern that the development might prevent the agency from meeting its personnel cost in 2013. The anti-graft agency... Read More

EFCC

December 3, 2012

Ha-ha-ha: EFCC ridicules plea bargain offer by alleged subsidy thief

The accused is being arraigned for involvement in multiple scams. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has described the plea bargain terms of Seun Ogunbambo, who is facing prosecution for multiple cases of fraud, as “laughable.” Mr. Ogunbambo is allegedly involved in a series of fuel subsidy frauds as well as a bank scam... Read More

EFCC, plea bargain, subsidy

December 2, 2012

Leke Alder: Nigeria’s ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ image

Citizens don’t idolise a nation that subtracts from their worth, or shuts the door of opportunity against them, or makes them a pariah at international borders. Nigeria’s Yahoo Yahoo image is killing her economy. Things are spiralling out of control and sociological wreckage is being wrought. It has often been said that Nigerians are not... Read More

citizenship, EFCC, internet fraud, Leke Alder, nigeria

November 30, 2012

Corruption allegations: House of Reps to probe Godsday Orubebe’s Abuja mansion

by Isi Esene A building located in the Mabushi District of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, said to belong to the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, has become the centre of attention of the Federal House of Representatives as it sets up committees to look into the ownership of the building and report... Read More

Abuja, corruption, EFCC, FCT, Godsday Orubebe, Goodluck Jonathan, House of Representatives, icpc, Mabushi, Mabushi district, Odeneye Kehinde

November 30, 2012

James Ibori II? Bi-Courtney boss obtains court order stopping his arraignment, falls ill ‘overnight’

SaharaReporters has learned that while businessman Wale Babalakin’s lawyer was telling one court today that he was too ill to appear in court, he was in the Federal High Court in Lagos obtaining an administrative injunction to prevent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from laying a finger on him or infringing on his... Read More

Alex Okoh, Bi-Courtney Consortium, Bolaji Ayorinde, EFCC, James Ibori, Julius Berger, Renix Nigeria Limited, Rotimi Jacobs, Stabilini Visinoni Limited, Wale Babalakin

November 28, 2012

#CynthiaOsokogu: House of Reps endorses anti-cybercrime bill

by Rachel Ogbu Following the death of Cynthia Osokogu, lured to Lagos, raped, robbed and killed by some “friends” she made on the Internet, the House of Representatives on Tuesday passed for second reading of a bill seeking to provide for penalties for persons involved in cyber-crimes. Sponsor of the bill, Hon. Aisha Modibbo (Adamawa/PDP) said... Read More

Adamawa State, Cynthia Osokogu, EFCC, Featured, nigeria, PDP, Politics

November 28, 2012

Yahoo Yahoo: NYSC member bags 8 months in jail for Internet fraud

A Lagos High Court in Ikeja on Tuesday sentenced a member of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Ibok Benneth, to eight months imprisonment for attempting to commit internet fraud. Benneth, 30, was convicted by Justice Olabisi Akinlade after he pleaded guilty to the offence on arraignment. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that... Read More

Afikpo, Atinuke Daramola, Ebonyi, EFCC, Ibok Benneth, Olabisi Akinlade, Sam Ohuabunwa

November 26, 2012

Money Laundering: 2 passengers caught with $2,073,160 at Lagos airport

by Isi Esene Two passengers were arrested over the weekend in possession of $2,073,160 and 20,300 Saudi Arabian Riyal (SAR) at the ‘E’ wing departure area of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA). The suspects, identified as Talal Hammoud with passport number, A03599105 and Hassan Rmaiti, a Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) staff with... Read More

Customs, EFCC, Eporwei Edike Charles, Hassan Rmaiti, lagos, MMIA, Talal Hammoud

November 25, 2012

Report: N5 trillion stolen on President Goodluck Jonathan’s watch

by Akan Ido The Goodluck Jonathan administration assumed office in 2011, with a firm commitment to fight corruption and win the war, but almost two years down the line, the ‘fight’, according to analysts seems not to have left the runway for take-off. The current EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, recently gave reasons why the commission... Read More

Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Diezani Alison Madueke, Dora Akunyili, EFCC, farouk lawan, Femi Otedola, fuel subsidy, Goodluck Jonathan, ngozi okonjo iweala, nuhu ribadu, Olusegun Aganga

November 25, 2012

Simon Kolawole: Jonathan, don’t drop the ball

Too much money is wasted or stolen, and you cannot but wonder how many more roads or schools or hospitals the loot could have built. Increasingly, it appears two major things will eventually define the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan: the power sector and the anti-graft war. Don’t misunderstand me – we need massive infrastructural... Read More

Bi-Courtney, corruption, Cosmas Maduka, EFCC, Electricity, Fraud, fuel subsidy probe, Goodluck Jonathan, Ifeanyi Ubah, olusegun obasanjo, Umar Musa Yar'Adua, Wale Babalakin

November 24, 2012

Kini big deal: Naeto C reacts to fraud allegations, threatens to sue promoter

by Akan Ido Storm Records, Naeto C’s Record Label, has reacted to the allegation of fraud and breach of contract leveled against the rap artiste by a popular show promoter, Fine Boy Swag (FBS) Entertainment . FBS Entertainment had in a press statement signed by its representative, Muhammad Nura, accused Naeto C of failing to... Read More

breach, defamation, EFCC, FBS Entertainment, Fine Boy Swag, forgery, Naeto C, Storm Records

November 23, 2012

Rambling: EFCC chairman attempts to explain why corrupt govt officials go free

by Akan Ido Ibrahim Lamorde, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday lamented the challenges faced by the commission in its efforts to bring perceived high calibre criminals to justice. He said this while defending the commission’s budget before the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, and Financial Crime. This year alone,... Read More

corruption, EFCC, Fraud, Ibrahim Lamorde, nigeria, senate

November 21, 2012

It pours: Money laundering charges filed against Bi-Courtney boss, Wale Babalakin

by Isi Esene There are reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday charged the chairman of Bi-Courtney Consortium, Wale Babalakin for money laundering. Sources say the charges were filed earlier today at a Lagos Court in Ikeja. The Federal Government had on Monday cancelled the contract awarded to his company for... Read More

Asaba, Bi-Courtney Consortium, construction, delta state, EFCC, ikeja, James Ibori, LAgos-Ibadan Expressway, money laudering, Wale Babalakin

November 18, 2012

For the Records: “Mr. President, truth is bitter but it will set us free” – Nuhu Ribadu

Full text of Chairman Nuhu Ribadu’s speech during the presentation of the report of the Petroleum Revenue Task Force to President Goodluck Jonathan on November 2nd. Your Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR The Honourable Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Deziani Allison Madueke Distinguished members of the Petroleum... Read More

corruption, Diezani Alison Madueke, EFCC, Fraud, Goodluck Jonathan, nuhu ribadu, Oil subsidy, Petroleum Revenue Task Force, Steve Oronsaye

November 16, 2012

Money Laundering: Former Union Bank MD Barth Ebong, others charged by EFCC

by Rachel Ogbu The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has re-arraigned former managing director of Union Bank Plc, Barthlomew Ebong and five other executives of Falcon Securities Limited, a Subsidiary of Union Bank Plc. They were brought before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday over alleged money laundering. Ebong is standing trial... Read More

Barthlomew Ebong, EFCC, money laundering, Union Bank Plc

November 13, 2012

Visa fraud: Benin pastor arraigned by EFCC

by Rachel Ogbu Today, a 33 year old pastor was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a nine count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretense. Pastor Henry Uhunmwagho was brought before Justice P.I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court 2 sitting in Benin City, Edo State. The first charge... Read More

EFCC, Fraud, Pastor Henry Uhunmwagho

November 9, 2012

Toothless bulldog – Presidency slams Nuhu Ribadu probe report

by Isi Esene Doyin Okupe, the special assistant to the president on public affairs, on Thursday in Abuja, organised a press conference announcing to the public that the contentious report on Petroleum Special Task Force is a toothless bulldog which is incapable of indicting anyone. The petroleum special task force was led by former Economic... Read More

Doyin Okupe, EFCC, Goodluck Jonathan, nuhu ribadu, Steve Oronsaye

November 5, 2012

“They tried to assasinate me twice… I still have bullet hole stains” – Ribadu

by Rachel Ogbu Nuhu Ribadu, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently went into details concerning his removal from the commission claiming it was in order to destroy the anti-graft agency. Yesterday, Ribadu who spoke on Frontline, a current affairs programme on the African Independent Television said his removal came a... Read More

EFCC, James Ibori, nuhu ribadu, political assassinations

October 31, 2012

#FuelSubsidyFraud: Ex PDP chairman’s son to stand trial in November

by Rachel Ogbu Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of an Ikeja High Court has adjourned the trial of Mamman Nasir Ali, son of the former national chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmadu Ali till November 12, 2012. Alongside Christian Taylor and their firm, Nasaman Oil Services, they are all facing charges of conspiracy, obtaining money under... Read More

Ahmadu Ali, EFCC, Fuel Subsidy Scam, Mamman Nasir Ali

October 21, 2012

Money laundering? This FAAN official was caught by the EFCC with N218million in cash

by Reuben Daba On Saturday, an official of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Akinyele Adetula, was apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the Murtala Mohammed Airport with $1.4m (N218m). Adetula was able to pass through Nigeria Customs Service and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency security checks because he was wearing... Read More

Akinyele Adetula, EFCC, FAAN, Ifeanyi Urama, Iliyasu Kwarbai

October 13, 2012

Sylva spoon: EFCC discovers N1billion Abuja mansions belonging to ex-governor Timipre Sylva

by Stanley Azuakola The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) might have gotten its most damning and compelling evidence yet on the case of looting involving ex-Bayelsa Governor Timipre Sylva. On Friday, the commission through its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren disclosed that a team of investigators from the anti-graft agency made some shocking new discoveries. He... Read More

EFCC, ex-Bayelsa governor, Gbenga Balogun, looting, Marlin Maritime Limited, Timipreye Sylva, Wilson Uwujaren

October 5, 2012

10 oil subsidy suspects remanded in EFCC custody

by Isi Esene Justice Habeeb Abiru of the Ikeja High Court earlier today remanded ten individuals allegedly involved in the misappropriation of oil subsidy funds obtained from the Federal Government. Abiru ruled that the suspects be held in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody pending hearing on their bail application on October 19.... Read More

Adamu Aliyu Maula, court, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Emeka Chukwu, Emmanuel Morah, Ifeanyi Anosike, Ngozi Ekeoma, petroleum subsidy, Petroleum Support Fund