News

N1.4bn fraud: EFCC arraigns Kogi Assembly candidate, 2 others

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Kogi State House of Assembly candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for Ankpa 11 Constituency, Ismaila Yousuf Atumeyi, and two others before the Federal High Court sitting Lagos over an alleged N1.4 billion fraud.

The other defendants are Ngene Joshua Dominic and Abdulmalik Salau.

The EFCC, through its counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, preferred an 18-count charge bordering on concealment of proceeds of fraud, money laundering, and cybercrime against the defendants before Justice Tijjani Ringim.

Oyedepo told the court in a charge numbered FHC/L/651C/2022, that the defendants committed the alleged offences between August and October, 2022 in Lagos.

READ ALSO: Dogara dumps APC for PDP

He said they conspired to “directly conceal” the N1.4 billion in the account of Fav Oil and Gas Limited, “which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 18 (a), 15 (2) (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

The defendants were accused of laundering the sum in tranches of N100million, $480,000, N12.5million, N7million, N9million, N7m, N12m, N8m, $140,000, and N326,400,000.

They were alleged to have acquired a N12.5 million black Mercedes Benz C300, N7 million BMW 3 Series, N9 million Black Range Rover, N7 million Toyota Hilux 2014 upgraded to 2021, N12 million Black BMW SURXI 2016, N8 million White Toyota Hilux 2010, and N10 million White Toyota Hilux.

The court also heard that they allegedly directly transferred N80 million to Frank Maya Integrated Ventures, acquired a property known at No. 8, Grace Crescent, Efab Crescent, Efab Queens Estate, Grarimpa, Abuja, and concealed $140,000 and N326,400,000 in a Black Escalade SUV.

Oyedepo, who prayed for accelerated hearing of the case, said the anti-graft agency intends to call six witnesses against the defendants.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

After taking bail applications by their counsel, Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, and counter arguments by Oyedepo, Justice Ringim adjourned the matter till Tuesday for ruling.

The Star

Segun Ojo

Recent Posts

Guardiola suffers 5th straight defeat for first time as Spurs thrash Man City 4-0

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola suffered a fifth straight defeat for the first time in…

7 hours ago

Police recover explosives, foil bomb explosion in Borno

The operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have recovered unexploded military ordnances in Maiduguri,…

7 hours ago

Tinubu departs Brazil after G20 summit

President Bola Tinubu has departed Rio de Janeiro in Brazil for Abuja after attending the…

8 hours ago

Fire guts LAUTECH teaching hospital

Fire, on Saturday, November 23, 2024, gutted a section at the Ladoke Akintola University of…

8 hours ago

EPL: Arsenal whip Nottingham Forest as Chelsea defeat Leicester

Bukayo Saka and Thomas Partey scored stunning goals in the Premier League as Arsenal thrashed…

9 hours ago

Wike’s aide slams Reps member Ugochinyere, calls him ‘political hushpuppi’

Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister…

12 hours ago

This website uses cookies.