#PanamaPapers: TB Joshua denies owning company

Founder Synagogue Church of All Nation (SCOAN) Prophet Temitope Joshua Tuesday denied owning Shell Company in Panama, the British Virgin Islands.

TB Joshua

In an official statement released Tuesday, Joshua described as malicious, claims that he and his wife owned Chillon Consultancy Limited, one of the companies mentioned in the infamous #PanamaPapers.

Debunking the allegation first published by Premium Times, an online news site, Joshua warned against defamatory statements against his person or his church, insisting he was not a businessman.

“Whoever is involved in this malicious write-up and propaganda with an obvious intent to defame my person and the ministry, remember what the Bible says in Luke 2:34 – “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many… and to be a sign that will be spoken against.”

“I am not a businessman and have no business whatsoever. What God has given me is more than enough. I have nothing to do with the Panama Papers. As for me and my family, we shall remain in the vineyard of God.

“Premium Times – do not allow your company to be used. Do not allow your company to stand against God. This is a lie! Take note – this news was written by the same journalist who alleged that I bribed him during the building incident and went to different channels – both local and international – to propagate these fabrications.

“Since the building incident, there have been a series of threats towards the ministry and my person by this same journalist, Nicholas Ibekwe, who represents a gang of people.

“After everything that has been done in an attempt to destroy this ministry, this is what he has resorted to. Even the picture used in the write-up is taken from the Mexico Crusade I recently held. It was a crusade I went for, nothing more.

“Do not use the Panama Papers to attack those you have been looking for an opportunity to victimise. This is to show that not everybody alleged in the media to be involved in the Panama Papers is truly involved. My own case is a good example.

“Beware of those using the Panama Papers for fraudulent purposes! This is a very big mistake the fraudsters have made. Those who read this report – take time to do your findings. It is malicious.

“Note – people are misusing the data in the Panama Papers for fraud to attack innocent people.”

#PanamaPapers: TB Joshua denies owning company

EFCC arrests Jonathan’s cousin for $40m contract scam

Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested the Managing Director of Katakar Civil Engineering Company, Mr. Azibaola Robert, and an Executive Director of the company, Mr. Dakoru Atukpa, over a $40m pipeline contract.

EFCC

The contract, it was learnt on Wednesday, was awarded by the Office of the National Security Adviser under the leadership of Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

Robert, who is a cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, has, however, described his arrest as a witch-hunt, insisting that the contract was transparent.

Our correspondent learnt that the arrest of Robert and Atukpa was sequel to a list sent to the EFCC by a committee set up by the Federal Government to probe contracts awarded by the ONSA from 2011 to 2015, which indicted more than 300 companies and prominent citizens, including serving and retired officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

It was learnt that the EFCC, on March 23, 2016, arrested Robert and Atukpa on the allegation of diversion of $40m public funds through Oneplus Holdings, a sister company of Kakatar Construction and Engineering Company Limited.

Oneplus Holdings is among the 300 firms under investigation by the Federal Government.

The spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, told our correspondent that the arrest was not a witch-hunt, alleging that the suspects received $40m from the ONSA for a dubious contract to supply “tactical equipment”.

Uwujaren said, “This is not a witch-hunt. He (Robert) is not Jonathan’s only cousin. The truth of the matter is that they are being held for a $40m contract he received from the ONSA. The mandate for the payment read, ‘Purchase of Tactical Equipment for Special Forces’.

“Two days after their arrest, they were offered bail. The condition was that the sureties must be on the level of civil service directors and a N250m bank guarantee. They must also have landed properties in Abuja and provide tax evidence of two years. But they could not meet up.

“So, the EFCC went to court for a remand order. They are being held pending the conclusion of investigation.”

However, the suspects, who spoke through their lawyer, Gordy Uche (SAN), alleged that the real target was Jonathan.

Uche said the contract was transparent, adding that the Federal Government still owed his clients $4m as the balance of the contract sum for successfully securing oil pipelines.

He told the commission to either charge his clients to court or release them on bail.

Uche added, “My client is being persecuted and punished because of his DNA, as a relative of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

“We have a civil dispute and then you turn round to lock up the party with whom you have a dispute.

“Then, you went ahead to give him impossible bail conditions: Two serving federal directors, each with properties in Maitama or Asokoro and original of their Certificates of Occupancy. The four directors are also required to present bail bonds of N250m each from reputable banks. Robert and Atukpa are also required to deposit their passports.”

EFCC arrests Jonathan’s cousin for $40m contract scam

Tompolo no where to be found 4 days to court appearance

By Emma Amaize & Egufe Yafugborhi WARRI—FOUR days to the February 19 date given by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to the nation’s security agencies to produce the former ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, there is no clue on his whereabouts.

Also, his Ijaw relatives are not ready to give up the former militant leader, who the people of Gbaramatu-Ijaw in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, regard in very high esteem.

A royal father, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “No Gbaramatu man will reveal the hideout of Tompolo to any security man even if he knows, unless that person does not have a true Ijaw blood flowing in him.

“Tompolo is an institution, not only in Ijawland, but in the whole of Niger Delta. He has touched many lives and is the current symbol of the struggle. Therefore, it is not easy for any full-blooded Ijaw man to betray him. From what I can see, the whole thing is about business transaction, the Federal Government should settle the matter and let peace reign.”

Tompolo no where to be found 4 days to court appearance

EFCC quizzes SAN over $26m Halliburton scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has stepped up investigations into the Halliburton bribe case.

To this end, the EFCC invited a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Damian Dodo, over his alleged role in the $26m bribery scandal.

A former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), and five other lawyers have also been alleged to be involved in the fraud.

According to sources, other suspects in the case will be interrogated next week.

It was learnt that Dodo was questioned by top operatives of the commission for over eight hours on Thursday over his alleged involvement in the case.

Dodo is alleged to have received $4.5m through his firm, DD Dodo and Co. from the multinationals involved in the bribery scandal under the cover of legal fees.

He was also alleged to have withdrawn over $2m in cash, for purposes that the EFCC described as unclear and in flagrant violation of extant money laundering regulations.

However, Dodo denied the allegations levelled against him. He said he and the other lawyers were only paid for their services.

He told Saturday PUNCH that the legal team even recovered over $200m from the multinationals involved in the bribery scandal and should be commended for their noble act.

Dodo said, “We all worked together to recover the huge sum of money from the Halliburton case for the Federal Government. It was not a personal matter but a matter handled by five top Nigerian lawyers.

“We have also made our report available to the Attorney-General of the Federation to show that we have nothing to hide.”

While foreigners who paid the bribes have since been punished by their respective countries, the beneficiaries from Nigeria have yet to be fished out and sanctioned.

But barely two weeks after the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, indicated that the major corruption cases in the country had not been closed, the Federal Government has moved to unveil and punish the suspects.

Malami had dismissed the notion that President Muhammadu Buhari was afraid of taking up the Halliburton and Siemens bribery cases because the key suspects were top military leaders.

The AG had said that Buhari is not a man who could be restrained by fear from doing what is right and in the overall best interest of Nigerians that he has sworn to defend and protect from harm’s way.

Malami said, “The idea of fear does not come in at all as far as this President is concerned in the fight against graft. Don’t forget that whatever Mr. President does is guided by the rule of law and available evidence.

“It must be noted however that no extraneous influence can influence our actions as we move to fight corruption in all its ramifications.

“To be noted also is the clear fact that no criminal case can be closed once the facts are handy, regardless of who is involved.

The Halliburton case relates to an alleged $182m contract involving a four-company joint venture to build a liquefied natural gas plant on Bonny Island. Earlier in 2009, KBR, a former subsidiary of Halliburton, agreed to pay $402m after admitting that it bribed Nigerian officials, and Halliburton paid $177m to settle allegations by the US Securities and Exchange Commission without admitting any wrongdoing.

In mid-December 2010, the case was settled when Nigeria agreed to drop the corruption charges against the company’s former boss, Dick Cheney (and former US Vice-President); and Halliburton in exchange for a $250m settlement.

However, no Nigerian official involved in the scandal has been jailed.

Speaking with our correspondent, the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), lamented that the case of Halliburton had taken too long.

Sagay said the probe lingered because Nigeria had incompetent attorneys-general that had succeeded in burying evidence.

The senior advocate said there was no reason why the EFCC could not successfully prosecute the suspects involved since other countries involved, such as the US and Germany, had jailed their own citizens.

He said, “All those involved in the US have been sanctioned and the company has had to pay a huge fine. We have a list of those involved and there is nothing stopping us from charging them to court.”

EFCC quizzes SAN over $26m Halliburton scam

Alleged N1trn rail contracts scam: Reps invite Amaechi, NRC MD, others

ABUJA—MEMBERS of the adhoc committee of the House of Representatives on failed rail contracts have summoned the Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi; Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, Seyi Sijuwade; former Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Mohammed Bello Haliru; and former Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, to explain their roles in the alleged N1 trillion rail contracts scam.

Rotimi Amaechi

The adhoc committee is headed by Ehoizuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, PDP, Ikpoba/Oha Federal Constituency. They are expected to appear before the committee tomorrow  during the investigative hearing.

Chairman of the adhoc committee, Agbonayinma, confirmed that all the stakeholders had been duly informed and were expected to show up unfailingly tomorrow.

Asked why the Minister of Transport was invited, despite the fact that he is barely three months old in office, Agbonayinma said:  “The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, was also invited to tell us all he knows, though he just assumed office but you know government is a continuum.

“This 8th House is 100 per cent in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s crusade against any form of corruption.

“We are not out to witch-hunt anybody but anyone found wanting in the course of this investigative hearing will be adequately exposed although as you are aware, not until it is proven by a competent court that such persons are guilty you can’t say they are guilty.”

It would be recalled that during the last investigative hearing on December 10, former chairman of the NRC board, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, had denied that during his tenure, no contract was awarded by the board he chaired.

Tukur, a former chairman of PDP, had told the adhoc committee that the Procurement Act excluded the NRC Board from participating in the award of railway contracts.

“The Board which I chaired, was never involved in any contract award and was never told or invited to participate in issues of contract award of financial disbursement,” he said.

He said throughout his stay as the Board Chairman of the NRC, no issue of contract award of any amount or tune was discussed or awarded by the Board.

Another Chairman of the board, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, also a former chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, told the adhoc committee that he was not privileged to appoint any consultant or award contracts for the railway projects.

According to Baraje, all the paraphernalia and indices that would assist him carry out his work were all gone.

“We only played the role of inspection because the procurement act excluded the board from participating in any contract,’’ he added.

He expressed worry that the country’s railway transportation system had suffered neglect, in spite of playing critical role in the development of the economy.

Baraje said more attention should be given to the 25-year railway modernisation plan to boost transportation in the country.

Also speaking at the hearing  Senator Ladan Shuni, another former Board Chairman of the NRC, wondered the essence of inaugurating a board that lacked the capacity to oversee the award of contracts.

The investigative hearing is expected to unravel how over N1 trillion was expended on rail rehabilitation, purchase of coaches, spare parts and materials for NRC.

Vanguard recalls   that   the House of Representatives, had on October 14 based on a motion promoted by Rep Solomon Ahwhinawi, PDP, Delta had set up   the adhoc committee to probe contracts awarded for the rehabilitation of rail tracks, standard gauge, bridges, coaches, wagons and locomotives between 2010 and 2014 amounting to N1 trillion.

Alleged N1trn rail contracts scam: Reps invite Amaechi, NRC MD, others

Scam: Tompolo to appear before court on Thursday

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has summoned former Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo to appear before it.

Tompolo

Justice Ibrahim Buba asked Tompolo to appear before him on Thursday, January 14, to answer to a 40-count charge of unlawful conversion brought against him by the EFCC.

He also granted leave to EFCC to serve Tompolo the summons and the charges through substituted means by “affixing same on the conspicuous part of his last known address situated at 1, Chief Agbanu DDPA Extension Warri, Delta State”.

The judge issued the summons following an application filed by the EFCC through its lawyer, Rotimi Oyedipo, who alleged that they have not been able to serve Tompolo with a copy of the charge.

The commission also informed the court that Tompolo had so far, refused to honour several invitations extended to him for questioning.

Accused Persons

The anti-graft agency had in December 2015 filed a case against Tompolo, a former boss of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi and eight others for allegedly converting to personal use, the sums of $108.7 million and 2.1 billion Naira belonging to NIMASA.

Other accused persons were: Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimiri Electricals Limited, Kime Engozu, Boloboere Property and Estate Ltd, Rex Elem, Destre Consult Ltd, Gregory Mbonu and Captain Warredi Enisuoh.

The suit was filed on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by its prosecutor, Festus Keyamo.

In 16 of the counts, the agency alleged that Ekpemupolo, Akpobolokemi, Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, Odimiri Electrical Ltd, Boloboere Property Estate, Kime Engozu, and Simon John Adomene, who is currently at large, conspired among themselves between 2012 and 2014 to commit the offence, knowing that the two sums of money were proceeds of stealing.

In counts 17-38 of the criminal charges, Rex Elem, Gregory Mbonu, and Destre Consult Ltd were alleged to have converted the sum of 106.8 million Naira, the property of Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, despite knowing that the sum was derived from official corruption.

In counts 39 and 40, the EFCC alleged that Captain Warredi Enisuoh converted the sum of eight million Naira, property of Global West Vessel Specialist, knowing that the money was derived from official corruption.

According to the EFCC the offences alleged to have been committed by the accused persons were contrary to and punishable under the Money Laundering Act of 2012.

Akpolobokemi is currently facing two different charges of stealing and conversion of money running into billions of Naira before the same court.

Akpobolokemi and nine others were first arraigned before Justice Saliu Saidu on December 3, 2015 on a 30-count charge of conspiracy, criminal conversion and laundering the sum of 3.1 billion Naira.

The EFCC claimed that the accused persons allegedly conspired among themselves to convert and launder the sum under the guise of providing security intelligence around the maritime domain.

On December 4, 2015, the anti-graft agency also arraigned the form NIMASA DG and five others before Justice Buba on a 22-count charge of stealing the sum of 2.5 billion Naira.

Akpolobokemi and other accused persons have, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Scam: Tompolo to appear before court on Thursday

Recruitment Scam: Army parades cyber fraudsters

he Nigerian Army has advised unsuspecting members of the public to be wary of persons soliciting for funds in order to enlist them into the Army, Nigeria Customs Service or any of the nation’s security agencies.

Speaking in Abuja while parading a suspected cyber fraudster who established two websites on behalf of the Army and the Customs, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, said that the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies do not ask for money from prospective applicants to facilitate their enlistment into any of the services.

He added that the suspect, Samuel Omoh Eromosele, who also bears the name, Balogun Precious Ehi, opened multiple accounts with two banks with which he defrauded some applicants.

Recruitment Scam: Army parades cyber fraudsters

Love scam: EFCC returns 10,000 Euros to French victim

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it had recovered and returned 10,000 Euros (about N2.25million), to F. Mercade, a French citizen, who was a victim of an internet love scam.

According to a statement by the commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the fund was wired to the victim through his account in France on the recommendation of the French Embassy in Nigeria.

The statement said Roger Balima, French Police Liaison Officer who confirmed the receipt of the funds by the victim, thanked the EFCC “for the good job.”

The EFCC said Mercade was duped by two Internet fraudsters, Omodara Adedapo Oluseye and Adesuyi Ayodeji Adedapo after he was deceived into a phantom relationship that was supposedly altar-bound.

The statement said: “The scam was reported to the commission via a petition from the French Consulate in Lagos, on behalf of Mercade.

“The petitioner alleged that he met a Nigerian beauty by name, ‘Kate Williams’ on the Internet sometime in 2009 and they developed a relationship which was to culminate in marriage. ‘Williams’ was to relocate to join Mercade in France, to consummate the relationship.

“While Mercade planned the logistics of the relocation, ‘Williams’, who purportedly did some jobs for an unnamed company in Nigeria, came up with a story that the company refused to pay ‘her’ for job done. ‘She’ sought the assistance of Mercade and the ‘couple’ contacted a lawyer named ‘James Robert’, to procure travelling documents and help her claim money from the company owing her.

“Mercade parted with 25,000.00 Euros, through Western Union, in processing his brides’ passage with no bride in sight. Eventually, it dawned on him that he had been scammed.

“Investigations into the matter by the commission that ‘Kate Williams’ is the pseudonym of Omodara Adedapo Oluseye, a male student of the College of Agriculture, Akure, who, however, resides in Ibadan Oyo State.

“Omodara’s accomplice, Adesuyi Ayodeji Adedapo, assisted in collecting the money transferred by the victim from the Akure, Ondo State branch of a new generation bank, using forged drivers’ license

The two scammers were prosecuted on a two count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences before a Federal High Court Lagos, convicted and sentenced them on June 13, 2011, to one year imprisonment each without an option of fine.

Meanwhile, the EFCC has arrested Ann Igwe, who was the secretary to a former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina.

Source close to the commission said the suspect was picked up last week and had given useful information.

The anti- graft agency is investigating how the biometric contract to streamline pension administration became conduit for stealing of pension fund.

Love scam: EFCC returns 10,000 Euros to French victim

Love Scam: EFCC recovers $2000 for American victim

Relief came for one Margaret Sanders, an American based in Sherman, Texas, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, successfully recovered the sum of $2000.00 (two thousand USD) which she had lost to a suspected Nigerian fraudster, Benjamin Akugbe, in a romance scam.

Sanders, through a petition dated July 9, 2013 alleged that she entered into a relationship on facebook, with someone who claimed to be Benny Brown from Warri, Delta State, with both agreeing to get married.

According to her, the suspect in the course of the affair, requested for the sum of $2000.00USD to enable him join her in United States of America.

The money was wired to him through Western Union, into an account with the name, Gladdys Ikpoba domiciled with a new generation bank.

After an endless wait for the fiance, Sanders came to the sad realisation that she had been duped. But her efforts to recover the money were unsuccessful until she petitioned the EFCC.

The Commission through discrete investigation recovered and returned the money to the victim.

 

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Love Scam: EFCC recovers $2000 for American victim

Court Jails Fake Customs Comptroller 10 Years for N11.1m Fraud

It was the end of road for a fraudster on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 when Justice Dije Aboki of the Kano State High Court, Kano convicted and sentenced one Ibrahim Hassan popularly known as Comptroller Kangiwa, to ten (10) years and six months imprisonment without option of fine in a case of conspiracy, impersonation and obtaining by false presence instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Hassan who was prosecuted on a four count charge, allegedly obtained the sum of N11, 074,500.00 (Eleven Million, Seventy Four Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) from one Alhaji Balarabe Sumaila, at Kano. The convict presented himself in company of his syndicate to the said Sumaila as Comptroller Husaini Suleiman Kangiwa from Zone C, Owerri Office of the Nigeria Customs Service in 2007. He told him that he had twelve (12) containers of textile materials auctioned by the Customs Service at the Tin Can Port, Apapa, Lagos for sale.

The complainant together with the convict’s accomplices, thereafter travelled to Lagos, where he was shown some containers containing the materials as discussed. Without any scintilla of suspicion, Alhaji Balarabe paid the N11, 074,500 (Eleven Million, Seventy Four Thousand, Five Hundred Naira), to the convict for processing, clearance and transportation of the goods from Lagos to Kano. However all efforts made by the complainant to get the goods delivered or his money paid back to him yielded no result.

Justice Aboki found Hassan guilty of the charge and consequently convicted and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment forobtaining the money by false pretence, three years imprisonment for personation and another six months for conspiracy.The sentence is to run concurrently.

The judge also granted the restitution application filed bythe prosecuting counsel, Nasiru Salele and ordered the convict to pay the sum of N11m (Eleven Million Naira) to the complainant, Alhaji Balarabe Sumaila.

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Court Jails Fake Customs Comptroller 10 Years for N11.1m Fraud

Police nab first class graduate, five others over Internet fraud

LAGOS— The Police Special Fraud Unit, PSFU, has smashed a syndicate which speclialises in designing multinational organisations’ websites to defraud unsuspecting members of the public, particularly applicants, and arrested six members.

Among the suspects are a first class honours graduate and two final year students of the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA.

The suspects’ modus oparadi, according to the unit, include using logos of multinational companies to place online advertisements for jobs and scholarships and demanding application fee from interested individuals.

Luck ran out for the suspects after the unit received a petition from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, last August, that a website designed as ‘OFID Scholarship Website’ (OPEC Fund for International Development for World Student Aid Scholarship) with OFID name and logo is being used to defraud unsuspecting Nigerian applicants.

How they were arrested

Explaining how they were arrested, spokesperson for the unit, Ngozi Isintume-Agu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said: “The petition dated August 22, 2013, said in the website, applicants were required to pay a fee of N2,500 and over 2,000 applicants responded through FirstBank account number 2020874607 and Access Bank account number 0056941009 with the name, OFID WSAS NG.

“The petitioner stated further that it was one of the victims that contacted OFID via facebook, accusing it of being an accomplice in the fraud.

“ The Cybercrime Section of the unit swung into action and the mastermind of the fraud, one Falade Oluwapelumi Ayotunde, was arrested.

“His arrest led to the arrest of five other syndicate members. Police investigation so far revealed that over 2,000 applicants paid N2,500 each into the two bank accounts provided by the suspects and the principal suspect is the only signatory to both accounts.

“Twenty-five- year-old Falade Olowapelumi Ayotunde, a 500-level Estate Management student of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, in his confessional statement to operatives of the unit, admitted to have designed the website of OFID WSAS in June, 2012.

“He, however, claimed that the idea was sold to him by Fajobi Olalekan and Bolatiri Opemipo. He also admitted in his statement that he opened an account in both banks with the name OFID WSAS NG for applicants to pay in their application fee which many responded to.

“The suspect who hails from Akure, Ondo state, further stated that he and his cohorts printed a postal for OFIDWAS which was on the website.

I was paid N120,000 for the job

On his part, Asaolu Victor, 25, a graduate of Mining Engineering from FUTA, admitted to have assisted to paste the posters on-line.

According to Asaolu, who is from Ilesha, Osun State, he was tempted to assist because of unemployment. “Yes, I assisted to paste it on-line and at the end, I was given the sum of N80,000 and later they added N40,000, totalling N120,000 for the job.”

Another suspect, Awote Temitope Emmanuel, 27, said: “I am a 500 level Estate Management student of FUTA. I assisted Ayotunde (principal suspect ) to guarantee the accounts he opened for the OFID programme and I was paid N70,000.”

Asked if he was aware that the scholarship programme was fake, he nodded in affirmative.

I lent Ayotunde N12,000

Also on his part, 27-year-old Fajobi Olalekan, a first class Mechanical Engineering graduate of FUTA and the best graduating student in his department for 2012, told operatives that he only lent the alleged mastermind N12,000 to host the website.

According to him, “while in school, I lived in the same lodge with Ayotunde. He and his friends were always coming to me for educational assistance because of my intelligence. I once fell a victim of a scam scholarship known as EDIADS.

“Ayo approached me then and got some information regarding it which I believe gave him an idea on how to design his OFID Scholarship Website.

“I lent Ayotunde N12,000 which he used to host the website but he paid me N20,000 and informed me that the plan was successful.”

Professional advice

Adebomi Oluwatosin, who is also a graduate of FUTA, said he only offered the alleged mastermind professional advice and also lent him N100,000 at the initial stage which was paid back with an additional N100,000.

Investigation, according to the Commissioner of Police in-charge of the unit, Umar Idris, was on-going, informing that the suspects would be charged to court soon.

He however, advised members of the public to verify the authenticity of any on-line advert before parting with their money, even as he called on the victims to visit the PSFU at Milverton Road, Ikoyi , Lagos in furtherance of the investigation.

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Police nab first class graduate, five others over Internet fraud

Buhari disowns ‘son’ arrested for N20m scam

A former military Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has said that the person who was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for a N20m scam and who claimed to be his adopted son was not his son.

Buhari

The former Head of State said that he had no need to adopt any son as God had blessed him with both male and female children.

The disclaimer by Buhari was contained in a statement issued on his behalf by the Chairman of the Buhari Vanguard, Mr. Jasper Azuatalam, on Monday.

“Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) wishes to state categorically that he does not have any adopted son called “Muhammed Buhari” and had no need to adopt a son at any time having been blessed with choice children, both male and female.

“Muhammadu Buhari and his family do not know the said “Muhammed Buhari” who is alleged to be involved in a N20m scam and is being held by the EFCC as reported.”

Azuatalam urged Nigerians to ignore the report saying Buhari and his family would continue to set high standards for others to emulate.

He described the story as an attempt by mischief makers to smear the image of the former military leader.

He said that it was not enough to link the former Head of State with the arrest just because the person involved answers the name ‘Buhari.’

“Muhammadu Buhari is blessed with very decent and disciplined children who obviously took after their father.

“His children have no single record of stealing and inordinate behaviour anywhere in the world. They do not seek attention, but have proven the stuff their father is made of any time their character is put to test,” he added. (Punch)

Buhari disowns ‘son’ arrested for N20m scam

Mohammed Abacha faces 9 new charges

ABUJA— The Federal Government, yesterday, entered fresh nine-count criminal charge against the eldest son of the late military dictator, Mohammed Abacha, following allegation that he unlawfully hid  about N446.3 billion allegedly stolen from the national treasury between 1995 and 1998.

Mohammed was accused of receiving the stolen money from his late father, General Sani Abacha, and concealed same.

Specifically, the Federal Government alleged that Mohammed “dishonestly received stolen property and voluntarily assisted in concealing money.”

The charge, according to government, replaced an earlier 121 criminal counts in which Mohammed was sued alongside one of his alleged accomplice,  Atiku Bagudu.

The government excluded Bagudu in the fresh charge, even as Vanguard investigations yesterday revealed that FG intend to use him as a witness against Mohammed.

According to the new charge marked CR.21 24/2008, the stolen money allegedly received by Mohammed, included 141,100,000 Pound Sterling and 384,353,000 US dollars, made up of cash and travellers cheques.

A private prosecutor, Mr. Daniel Enwelum, has been hired by the government to prosecute the case to its logical conclusion.

Meanwhile, attempt to arraign Mohammed before Justice Mamman Kolo of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory yesterday proved abortive owing to his absence.

Enwelum told the court that even when Mohammed had been served with the charge, with evidence to that effect contained in a sworn affidavit by the court’s bailiff, the accused person refused to present himself for arraignment.

He said the new charge against Mohammed was filed pursuant to Section 181 of the Criminal Procedure Code, CPC.

Enwelum urged the court to accept the fresh charge and deem the receipt of the charge by the defence lawyer on behalf of the accused person, as proper service.

He said Mohammed’s lawyer, Abdulllahi Haruna had received the charge on his behalf.

However, Haruna told the court that Mohammed was absent owing to the fact that he was yet to receive a copy of the fresh charge.

He, therefore, urged the court to adjourn the case to a further date to enable his client to appear for arraignment.

Meantime, counsel to Bagudu, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), urged the court to grant an order discharging his client from the charge in view of the prosecution’s decision to exclude him from the new charge.

The government did not oppose the application, even as Justice Kolo accordingly discharged the 2nd accused person, Bagudu.

Subsequently, the court, yesterday, fixed April 29 to take Mohammed Abacha’s plea.

 

Mohammed Abacha faces 9 new charges