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N12.3BILLION FRAUD: EFCC SET TO ARRAIGN HONEYWELL GROUP CHAIRMAN, OTUDEKO, FORMER FBN MD, ONASANYA, OTHERS

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Chief Oba Otudeko, and three others before the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, January 20, 2025. The others to be arraigned alongside Otudeko are a former First Bank Managing Director, Stephen Onasanya, a former board member of Honeywell, Soji Akintayo, and a firm, Anchorage Leisure Limited, connected to Otudeko. The EFCC has filed a 13-count charge against the defendants, alleging that they conspired to commit fraud and laundered N12.3 billion between 2013 and 2014 in Lagos. The defendants are accused of obtaining the sum of N12.3 billion from First Bank Limited under false pretenses, claiming it represented credit facilities applied for by V-Tech Dynamic Links Limited and Stallion Nigeria Limited. Specifically, Count 1 of the charge alleges that the defendants conspired to obtain the sum of N12.3 billion from First Bank Limited on the pretence that the said sum represented credit facilities applied for by V-Tech Dynamic Links Limited and Stallion Nigeria Limited, which representation they knew to be false. Counts 5 and 6 accuse the defendants of procuring Honeywell Flour Mills Plc to retain the sum of N1.5 billion and converting the sum of N500 million to the use of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, which sums they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of their unlawful activities. The EFCC counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, filed the charge on January 16, 2025. The defendants will be brought before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, to whom the case has been assigned.

EFCC CLARIFIES RAID ON ETERNO HOTEL, SAYS OKUNBOR IS A PRIME SUSPECT IN N6BILLION FRAUD CASE

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied allegations that its operatives raided a hotel in Benin to intimidate witnesses in the Edo State governorship tribunal. In a statement, Head, Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale, clarified that the Commission’s operatives were at Eterno Hotel to arrest Jonathan Okunbor, a prime suspect in a N6billion fraud case. Dele Oyewale stated that Okunbor is not a witness of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election tribunal as claimed by Asue Ighodalo, but rather a suspect connected to a case of misappropriation of funds involving all 18 local government areas of Edo State. Oyewale noted that ongoing investigations showed that about N6billion was diverted to Kezmith Global Ventures owned by Okunbor, who was running the ventures using the name and identity of Godfrey Emode. According to Oyewale, the Commission’s investigators arrested Emode, who led them to Okunbor at Eterno Hotel, where a pre-trial meeting was being held. However, Ighodalo and his associates prevented EFCC officers from carrying out their constitutional duty and obstructed them from arresting Okunbor. “Specifically, Ighodalo insisted that Okunbor was his witness when it was obvious that he only wanted to aid his escape from the Commission’s investigators,” Oyewale said. Oyewale emphasized that the EFCC remains committed to its adherence to the rule of law and has no business with any Edo State election witness that has no corruption charge before it. “The EFCC will not hesitate to bring anyone to trial, witness or no witness, if it has a basis for doing so,” he added. The public is assured that Okunbor will be brought to book soon in connection with the alleged N6billion fraud involving his firm, Kezmith Global Ventures.

OKOYA BROTHERS SUMMONED BY EFCC OVER ALLEGED NAIRA ABUSE

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has summoned Wahab and Raheem Okoya, sons of billionaire businessman Chief Razaq Okoya, for questioning over alleged naira abuse. The brothers faced widespread criticism after a video surfaced online showing them spraying bundles of N1,000 notes during a promotional video for Raheem’s new song, Credit Alert. In the video, the brothers, dressed in white agbadas, were seen flinging the cash while a mobile policeman held stacks of crisp naira notes. The display sparked sharp reactions on social media, with many viewing it as a violation of laws governing the handling of the Nigerian currency. Critics questioned whether the incident would be addressed impartially given their father’s status. Confirming the development, EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said the brothers have been invited to appear at the Lagos office on Monday, January 13, 2025. The invitation was reportedly signed by the Acting Director of the Lagos Directorate of the EFCC, Michael Wetkas. Raheem Okoya issued a public apology on his social media platform, stating, “To the Nigerian people, my actions were not intended to cause any trouble or harm. My intentions were pure and naive. I ask for your forgiveness and support as I had no intention of raising such an alarm.” The Nigeria Police Force has also taken action, detaining the officer involved in the video. The Force Spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the officer’s identity and assured the public of appropriate action. The EFCC’s move is seen as a commitment to enforcing laws protecting the naira from misuse, regardless of the individuals involved.

EFCC ARRESTS FOUR CHINESE, 101 OTHERS FOR SUSPECTED INTERNET FRAUD IN ABUJA

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested four Chinese nationals and 101 Nigerians in Abuja for suspected internet fraud. The suspects were arrested on Thursday, January 9, 2025, in a business apartment in the Gudu axis of Abuja. The Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, revealed in a statement that the suspects were involved in a hotel review job scam targeting victims and hotels in Europe and other parts of the world. The suspects comprise 67 males, including the four Chinese nationals, and 38 females. Oyewale stated that the EFCC is committed to cleaning the nation of internet fraud and other acts of corruption. He added that the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations. The EFCC’s efforts to combat internet fraud have been ongoing, with a recent massive raid conducted on December 16, 2024, in Victoria Island, Lagos, resulting in the arrest of 792 suspects.

EMEFIELE LOSES BID TO STOP TRIAL AS COURT AFFIRMS JURISDICTION

Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), suffered a setback yesterday as Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Special Offences Court dismissed his application challenging the court’s jurisdiction to try him on charges of abuse of office. Emefiele is accused of misusing his position to the tune of $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion. In his ruling, Justice Oshodi held that the court has jurisdiction to try Emefiele on the charge, adding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had established a territorial jurisdiction on counts eight to 26 with facts in the proof of evidence attached to the case file. However, the court struck out counts one to four of the charge, which bordered on abuse of office. Emefiele, who served as the CBN Governor from 2014 to 2023, has been embroiled in several controversies, including allegations of financial impropriety and abuse of office. He is currently facing multiple charges, including a 20-count amended charge bordering on conferment of corrupt advantages, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and obtaining by false pretences to the tune of $6,230,000. In July 2024, an Abuja court dismissed Emefiele’s application to travel to the UK for medical treatment, citing concerns that he might jump bail. With yesterday’s ruling, Emefiele’s bid to stop his trial has been rejected, paving the way for the continuation of his trial.

EFCC DISMISSES 27 OFFICERS OVER FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES AND MISCONDUCT

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the dismissal of 27 officers in 2024 for involvement in fraudulent activities and misconduct. In a statement by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the dismissals were based on recommendations from the Staff Disciplinary Committee and were approved by the EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede. Oyewale explained that the affected officers were found guilty of various infractions that contravened the Commission’s standards of conduct. Olukoyede reaffirmed the EFCC’s commitment to maintaining integrity within its operations, stressing that all allegations of misconduct would be thoroughly investigated. “No officer is above disciplinary action, regardless of rank or position,” Olukoyede emphasized. The Commission also addressed reports of fraudulent claims, including a trending allegation of $400,000 involving a Sectional Head, which it assured the public would be investigated. Furthermore, the EFCC highlighted the activities of impersonators and blackmailers who falsely claim affiliations with the Commission to extort money from suspects under investigation. In one instance, two individuals, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, were arraigned before a Federal Capital Territory High Court for attempting to extort $1 million from a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello-Koko. The EFCC described such activities as disreputable and urged the public to report similar cases. “Olukoyede remains a man of integrity that cannot be swayed by monetary influences,” Oyewale stated, adding that the public is enjoined to always report such disreputable elements to the Commission.