Many state that the Govt has quietly dropped many anti corruption cases after high profile arrests. That is not true. Nigerian justice is notoriously slow but the cases are going through the courts.
Here is the latest in a selection of 20 cases:
1) 4 companies charged with $15Billion money laundering (on behalf of Dame Patience) have pled guilty. 3 other defendants, Waripamo Dudafa (SA on Domestic Affairs to former President GEJ), Amajuoyi Briggs (former GEJ aide), and Adedamola Bolodeoku (banker), have entered non-guilty pleas. Case adjourned till Sept 27th. Justice Babivision presiding.
Patience Jonathan is suing to have the accounts unfrozen.
2) Court upholds the EFCC freezing of Fayose's property assets valued at N1.2Billion. Judge Nnamdi Dimgba rules that the EFCC have the right to build a case against Fayose in preparation for him leaving office, despite the immunity from prosecution he enjoys while in office.
3) Sambo Dasuki possession of illegal arms and money laundering $2.1 Billion trial adjourned until Oct 19th. Dasuki currently held without bail. EFCC has frozen his bank accounts. Court has dismissed his appeal to have the case dismissed. Justice Adeniyi Ademola presiding.
4) Saraki and Ekweremadu forgery trial adjourned until Sept 28. Justice Yusuf Haliu presiding.
5) Saraki false declaration of assets trial at the CCT adjourned until September. Mr Danladi Umar, Chairman of the tribunal presiding.
6) The EFCC have frozen 2 of Fayose's bank accounts with deposits of N382 Million. Fayose has appealed asking the court to lift the freeze. The case has been adjourned until Sept 30th. Justice Taiwo Taiwo presiding.
7) Oliseh Metuh has been charged in 2 different cases:
a) Metuh charged with laundering N400 Million money. Granted N400 Bail. Case adjourned until Oct 27 and Oct 30th. Justice Abang presiding.
b) Metuh charged with criminal destruction of evidence. Bail of N300 Million granted. Justice Ishaq Bello presiding.
Metuh appealed asking his case be dismissed. The Appeal court ruled against him stating he has case to answer.
8) The EFCC has charged Jide Omokore, Victor Briggs, Abiye Membere, David Mbanefo, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited with money laundering and fraud charges of $1.6 Billion. The defendants granted bail of N50 Million each, with their passports seized. Trial adjourned until Oct 20 and 21st. Justice Binta Nyako Presiding.
While Aluko and Diezani were originally on the charge sheet, the judge struck their names off. The EFCC will bring charges against Aluko and Diezani once it can serve documents on them.
The EFCC have frozen $1.8 Billion in worldwide assets linked to Omokore and Aluko. Seized Assets include: three mansions in Los Angeles, two high-end apartments in New York City, properties in Santa Barbara, California; numerous properties in Lagos, including 43 apartments in Banana Island, 58 vehicles, the Galactica Star yacht, and three airplanes.
9) EFCC charge Fani-Kayode, Nenadi Hassan (former finance minister), Danjuma Yusuf, and a company, Joint Trust Dimension Nig Ltd with N4.9 Billion fraud. FFK granted N250 Million Bail. Other defendants also released on bail of N250 Million each. Case adjourned for trial Oct 19, 20 and 21. Justice Muslim Hassan presiding.
FFK sued the govt over his 2 month detention by the EFCC but Justice Adeniyi ruled against him stating the EFCC was acting within its statutory mandate.
10) Ex Gov Nyako and his son rearraigned in their N29 Billion money laundering trial. Trial began on September 12th. Justice Okon Abang presiding after the death of the first trial judge, Justice Evoh Chukwu.
11) Nyako's aides - Ja'faru Maliki, Vwapamkai Bafyau, Farouk Tarja, James Zarma, Suleiman Mohammed, Mamman Malgwi, arraigned on N700Million procurement fraud and diversion of state funds. Trial date set for Oct 26, 27 and 28. Justice Balkisu Aliyu presiding.
12) The EFCC is probing Diezani for $10 Billion in slush funds. They have frozen property assets of over N4.05 Billion in Abuja and are looking to freeze further assets of N3 Billion of her property assets in Port Harcourt.
The EFCC are also working with authorities in the USA and the UK to freeze Diezani's assets. AGF Malami was in the USA to facilitate this. Proceedings have been instituted to freeze her USA property.
The EFCC have frozen some of Diezani's foreign bank accounts. They include accounts with: BNP Paribas (Switzerland), LGT Bank (Switzerland), Standard Chartered Bank (London), Barclays Bank (London), Standard Energy (Voduz, Switzerland), HSBC (London), Corner Bank (Lugano, Switzerland) and Deutsche Bank (Geneva).
13) EFCC N8 Billion case of money laundering and financial crimes against Aliyu Akwe Doma adjourned until Nov 28, 29, 30 and Dec 1. The EFCC have presented their case. The defence will begin their defence when the trial resumes. Doma is an ex governor of Nassarawa State. Justice Agatha Okeke presiding.
14) Raymond Omatseye ex NIMISA head, was convicted and sentenced to a 5 years for a N1.5Billion contract splitting scam. He is appealing his conviction and has been granted bail in the sum of N500,000 by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.
15) Ex- Governor Suswam and his finance Minister Omodachi Okolobia, arraigned in N3.1 Billion fraud case. Both granted N100 Million each. The case is adjourned until Oct 4th. Justice Ahmed Mohammed presiding.
In Jun 2016, Justice Mohammed attempted to recuse himself after Sahara Reporters accused him of being bribed by Suswam. In July 2016, the CJ of the Federal High Court, Justice Auta, reassigned the case back to Justice Mohammed, and told him to continue presiding over the trial as no evidence to back up the newspaper allegations were produced.
16) Abiodun Agbele, an associate of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, charged in N1.2 Billion Money laundering case. His fellow defendants: Musliu Obanikoro; Sylvan Mcnamara Limited; Lt. A.O Adewale; Tunde Oshinowo and Olalekan Ogunseye are all at large. Agbele has been granted N500 Million bail. The case has been adjourned until October 26 and 27, 2016 for trial. Justice Nnamdi Dimgba presiding.
17) Ex-Acting Governor Fintiri (Adamawa State) charged in N2.9 Billion money laundering case. Granted N500 Million Bail. Trial adjourned until Oct 6. Justice A R Mohammed presiding.
18) Ex-Gov Orji Kalu, James Udeugo and Slok Nigeria ltd. re-arraigned on N3.2Billion fraud. All have been granted N100 bail each. The EFCC charged them on 2007 but the defendants appealed all the way to the Supreme court, dragging out the process for 9 years. Trial date set for Sept 19th. Justice Anwuri Chikere presiding.
19) Ex Chief Of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (rtd) charged with N3.97 Billion case of corruption. Badeh granted N2 Billion bail. Case adjourned till Oct 10. Justice Okon Abang presiding.
20) Tompolo and NIMASA Director-General Patrick Akpobolokemi charged in N47.7 Billion fraud. Tompolo has absconded. In Feb 2016, Judge Ibrahim Buba authorised the freezing of Tompolo's assets and gave the EFCC the authority to auction the assets 3 months after hid ruling if Tomplolo did not appear before the courts. In Jul 2016, EFCC froze a Tompolo account with N3 Billion balance.
Tompolo Assets the EFCC have seized include: house located at No. 1 Chief Agbamu Close DDPA Extension Warri (Effurun), Delta State. Mieka Dive Ltd; Mieka Dive Training Institute Ltd; Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd; Muhaabix Global Services Ltd; a River Crew Change Boat named MUHA – 15; “Tompolo Dockyard”; “Tompolo Yard”; the Diving School at Kurutie, at Escravos River; “Tompolo House” at Oporaza Town, opposite the Palace. The anti-graft commission also urged the court to grant it an order to take over any other movable and immovable assets belonging to Tompolo.
** Links can be provided for each of the cases for anyone seeking further info re any of the cases.
~ Bucky 2016
links please
ReplyDeletelinks please
ReplyDelete