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World Anti-Corruption Day: EFCC Recovers N217,268,238m, Convicts 84 in Edo, Delta, Ondo States.

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In its bid to make the country corruption free, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), says it recovered not less than N217,268,238m, while property including houses and vessels were forfeited to the government in the year 2019 in Edo, Delta and Ondo states.

The Commission also successfully secured the conviction of 84 persons involved in financial, cyber crimes and other forms of corruptions in the states under Benin zone.

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World Anti-Corruption Day: EFCC, Religion Bodies And Civil Society Organisations In A Walk Against Corruption In Benin City On Monday

Muhtar Bello, Head, Benin zonal office, while disclosing this to journalists shortly after a road-walk to mark this year’s World Anti-Corruption Day, called on stakeholders support and cooperation in the fight against corruption.

According to him, to make meaningful progress in restoring transparency, accountability and due process in public governance, support and cooperation from stakeholders is need, adding that the EFCC alone cannot fight corruption.

Muhtar noted that corruption is a serious crime that can undermine social and economic development of any nation, hence including religion leaders in this year’s anti-corruption day inorder to spread the measage.

World Anti-Corruption Day: The EFCC and other stakeholders in a road-walk against corruption in Benin City on Monday

According to the Benin zonal head, the EFCC under the acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, had between 2015 and 2019 secured a total of 1,636 convictions, including that of three former governors, Joshua Dariye of Plateau State, Jolly Nyame, Taraba, and Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, Abia state.

Chief Imam of Benin, Sheik Abdulfatai Enabulele, who was part the road-walk, noted that all hands must be on deck in the fight against corruption, stressing that corruption is a draw back to the nation.

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He further noted, ” We need to support the acting chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu for the good work he is doing. We must purge ourselves, be more patrotic, committed and sincere because the stealing is too much and if we did not kill corruption, it will kill us.”

Also speaking, a representative of the Christian Association Of Nigeria (CAN), and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rev. Phil Arojie, said the christians have to join forces with the EFCC to stamp out all forms of corruption in the country.

The youth wing chairman of CAN, noted “We must join hands with EFCC to fight corruption, it is a fight that we must support ti continue and  win”

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Evans Re-arraigned For Kidnapping, Attempted Murder

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Convicted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, has been re-arraigned over the alleged kidnapping and attempted murder before a Lagos State High Court sitting in the Tafawa Balewa Square area.

Evans’ re-arraignment on Thursday follows the transfer of the case file from Justice Adedayo Akintoye, who is the initial trial judge.

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Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Ikeja Special Offences Court in September 2022 sentenced Evans and his co-defendant, Victor Aduba, to 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping one Sylvanus Hafia.

READ ALSO: Evans Sentenced To 21-year Imprisonment For Kidnapping

They were convicted of conspiring and kidnapping Hafia around 5:30 pm on June 23, 2014, at Kara Street, Amuwo Odofin, in Lagos and to have captured and detained Hafia and demanded a ransom of $2m.

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However, the matter started afresh before Justice Ibironke Harrison, where Evans was again arraigned alongside Joseph Emeka, Victor Aduba and Okapara Linus.

The four are facing five counts bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping, and attempted murder, preferred against them by Lagos State.

Evans and his co-defendants were arraigned for allegedly kidnapping Chief James Uduji and collecting a ransom of $1.2m dollars.

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They, and others at large, allegedly committed the offence on September 7, 2015 at 7th Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos.

The defendants were also accused of attempted murder by allegedly firing shots at Uduji and Donatus Nwoye which hit him on the hand and again shot one Mr Jereome Okezie on the hand and head.

READ ALSO: Billionaire Kidnapper: Court Sentences Evans Co-defendant To Five Years

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According to the prosecution, the offences committed contravened Sections 411, 271 (3) and 230 (A), of the criminal laws of Lagos State 2015.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Justice Harrison subsequently adjourned that matter till May 3 and 4, 2023 for trial.

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Prof Facing N1.4bn Fraud Case Gets N1m Bail

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a Professor, Uche Edwin, before the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on charges of alleged N1.4 billion fraud.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the EFCC’s Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren on Thursday.

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Edwin was arraigned alongside his companies, Visionary Integrated Consulting Limited, NEMAD Associates Limited and Revamp Global Enterprise, on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, retention and conversion of funds to the tune of N1, 473,367,046.04 belonging to Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria.

He, however, pleaded “not guilty” to the 11-count charge.

READ ALSO: Japanese Billionaire Masatoshi Ito Is Dead

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One of the counts reads: “ That you, Professor Uche Chigozie Edwin, Visionary Integrated Consulting Limited, Nemad Associates Limited and Revamp Global Enterprise, sometime in 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Court , conspired amongst yourselves to use the sum of N1, 473,367,046.04, property of the Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: fraud; and you thereby committed an offence , contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

The prosecution counsel, C.C. Okezie, asked the court for a trial date and also asked that the defendant be remanded.

The defence counsel, Mobolaji Akintunde, in response, made an application for bail on behalf of his client.

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He asked the court to admit his client to bail and also implored the court to allow his client to be remanded in EFCC custody pending when he would be able to meet the bail conditions the court might impose.

In a short ruling, the judge, Nicholas Oweibo, allowed bail to the defendant in the sum of N1 million and two sureties in like sum.

READ ALSO: Man Defiles 16-year-old Girl, Remanded

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The sureties, according to the court, must possess landed property within the jurisdiction of the court, show a tax clearance certificate of three months as well as their passport photographs.

The defendant was also ordered to deposit his passport with the court.

The judge adjourned the trial till 27 June for the commencement of the trial.

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JUST IN: Court Jails Ex-Imo Commissioner

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A former Commissioner for Transport in Imo State, Laz Anyanwu, was on Tuesday sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Anyanwu, who served during the administration of ex-governor Rochas Okorocha, was sentenced after he was found guilty of the charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

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The judge, K. A Lewanya, while sentencing the former commissioner said that the jail term would serve concurrently.

READ ALSO: Man Jailed After Sending Romance Scam Proceeds To Nigerian Family From US

The judge said that the convict was found guilty of fraud , looting of public funds and stealing.

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The justice said that the former commissioner was found guilty of diverting N180 million of state funds into a private company account where he was a major shareholder and sole signatory when he superintended and doubled as commissioner for transport and the chairman interim committee of the Imo State transport company, ITC, which is against section 12 and 19 of the ICPC Act 2020.

The judge held that Anyanwu by that action had violated the Public Procurement Act, abused his office and used his office to gain undue advantage in his dealings during his tenure as the commissioner for transport and the chairman interim committee of the Imo state transport company, ITC.

The judge said that the EFCC lawyer, Micheal Ani, was able to proof beyond reasonable doubt that when Anyanwu was commissioner for transport between 2015 and 2019, he transferred the sum of N100 million from the ITC account to his private company named Oma Oil Industries Limited, which is against section 12 and 19 of the ICPC Act 2020 for a public servant.

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READ ALSO: Court Jails Woman 18 Years For Child Stealing, Convict Indicts Lawyer

The judge also said that the ex-commissioner signed off another N80 million from government coffers directly to his private company account with the motive that he wanted to procure some vehicles for ITC without due process and recourse to the public procurement act.

The judge, while sentencing him to prison, said the former commissioner looted the sum of N180 million found in his account said to be for the state transport company.

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