Alleged N20b Fraud: Court Convicts Ahmed Kuru’s Co-defendant

February 12, 2025

A BETTER AFRICA, ABAK MAIL, ABEJUKOKO GRAPHIC, ABEOKUTA SOUTH VANGUARD

Alleged N20b Fraud: Court Convicts Ahmed Kuru’s Co-defendant

Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited, a co-defendant in the trial of Ahmed Kuru, former Managing Director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, (AMCON) was on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 convicted and sentenced for fraud by Justice R.A. Oshodi of Special Offences Court, sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.

Kuru, the first defendant is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited on amended six-count charge, bordering on conspiracy, stealing, dishonesty and criminal conversion to the tune of N20 billion.

At today’s proceeding, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN informed the court that the reason for the amendment of the charge had to do with Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited, represented by Umaru Hamidu Modibbo.

Count one reads: “Ahmed Kuru, Umaru Hamidu Modibbo, Ifie Sekibo (at large) and Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited sometime in 2016 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony, to with: stealing by dishonestly converting the total sum of Twenty Billion Naira (N20,000,000,000) property of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria through Heritage Bank Limited to the use of Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited for the acquisition of Keystone Bank Limited.”

Count three reads: “Ahmed Kuru, Umaru Hamidu Modibbo, Ifie Sekibo (at large) and Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited on the 17th of November, 2016 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court transferred the aggregate sum of Ten Billion Naira (N10,000,000,000) derived directly from an illegal act to wit: stealing with the aim of concealing the illegal origin of the said sum and to evade the legal consequences of your action.”

Kuru, pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to him, while Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited pleaded “guilty.”

Following Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited’s plea, Justice Oshodi declared the company “guilty” as charged and ordered that its liquidation and for all its rights, title and interest in the N6,250,000,000 (Six Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty Million units of the Keystone Bank Limited’s ordinary shares of N1.00 each be forfeited to federal government.

Applying the same sentence on Modibbo, being its alter-ego, the court ordered that “all the rights, title and interest in unit of the Keystone Bank Limited’s ordinary shares allotted to Alhaji Umaru Hamidu Modibbo who represented the company shall be forfeited to the federal government of Nigeria.”

Thereafter, Kuru’s counsel, Olasupo Shasore, SAN, moved a motion for his bail and prayed the court to grant him bail on self-recognition and on liberal terms. While the prosecution did not oppose the bail application, it prayed for tough bail conditions that could make the defendant take court attendance seriously.

“We shall be praying for stringent conditions because we are particular about the attendance in court,” Oyedepo said.

Justice Oshodi granted bail to Kuru in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum who must be gainfully employed and depose to means of identification.

He adjourned till March 7, and April 16, 17, 2025 for commencement of trial.

Dele Oyewale

Head, Media & Publicity

February 11, 2025

EFCC Arraigns 16 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Enugu

The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned 16 (sixteen) suspected internet fraudsters before Justice Folashade O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court, sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State.

The defendants are: Ibemere Gerald Ifechukwu, Ngwu Chidozie Henry, Onwugbolu Charles, Okeke Emmanuel Ebubechukwu, Ikechukwu Augustine Ibeanu, Samuel Obi Chidera, Chukwuemeka Emmanuel Chinsed and Onoja Sampson Kingsley.

Others are: Chukwudi Francis Chinenye, Nwodo Nelson Obinna, Muolukwu Ikenna Anthony, Ebuka Peter Ejiofor, Okonkwo Nonso Chijioke, Ngwu Chidozie Sylvester, Duru Christopher and Seth Hyacinth Chidera.

While Emmanuel, Ebubechukwu, Henry, Chidera, Christopher, Francis and Charles were arraigned on separate two-count charges, the rest of the defendants were arraigned on separate three-count charges, all bordering on fraudulent impersonation, possession of fraudulent documents and money laundering.

Count three against Chidera reads: “That you, Samuel Obi Chidera, sometime in January, 2025, in Awka, Anambra State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did commit a felony to wit: Using and taking possession of the sum of Three Thousand United States Dollars ($3,000), knowing same to be fund that forms part of proceeds of an unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2022 as amended and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.”

Count three against Chijioke reads: “That you, Okonkwo Nonso Chijioke, sometime in January, 2025, in Awka, Anambra State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did commit a felony to wit: Using and taking possession of the sum of Five Hundred United States Dollars ($500), knowing same to be fund that forms part of proceeds of an unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2022 as amended and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.”

They pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were separately read to them, following which prosecution counsel, Michael Ikechukwu Ani prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded in Enugu State Correctional Centre, while defence counsel, J. O. Ezeh, D. O. Orji, Lizzy Otakagu, E. J. Nwatarali, Michael Odom and Wisdom Ogbonna made bail applications for the defendants before the court, which were opposed by prosecution counsel on the ground that he was just served the applications and needed time to study them and file counter affidavits.

After listening to both sides, Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo adjourned the matters till February 17, 2025 for hearing of bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Enugu State Correctional Centre.

The defendants were arrested on Friday, January 17, 2025 in a sting operation at Dr. J. O Ukwutinife Close, Commissioners Quarters, Ifite, Awka, Anambra State, following actionable intelligence linking them to online criminal activities.

Investigations revealed that while some of the defendants specialized in impersonating foreign nationals and defrauding their victims using fake social media accounts, others specialized on forging documents which they use in defrauding unsuspecting victims.

Dele Oyewale

Head, Media & Publicity

February 11, 2025

Court Jails Internet Fraudster in Lagos

The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has secured the conviction and sentencing of one Chika Stanley Okoh for internet fraud, before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

He was arraigned in December 2024 on a one-count charge bordering on cybercrime.

The charge reads: “That you Chika Stanley Okoh sometimes in 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently held out yourself on facebook account @Zachary Levi as Zachary Levi, a male American actor, with intention to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition etc.) Act, 2015.”

He pleaded “guilty” to the charge when it was read to him, following which prosecution counsel, B.I. Oluseyi, invited an investigative officer of the EFCC, Damilare Adeosun to give a review of the facts of the case.

Adeosun told the court that the EFCC sometime in November 2024 received credible intelligence on the activities of internet fraudsters around the Lekki axis of Lagos and that “Acting on the intelligence, a sting operation was conducted at Lekki County Estate, Lagos State, where Okoh was arrested alongside several others,” and was taken to EFCC office where he volunteered his statement.

“The defendant misrepresented himself to be a white man from the United States with the name Jonathan. The defendant also confessed that he does middle-man fraud by facilitating proceeds of fraud for internet fraudsters. And he gets a certain percentage from every transaction being facilitated. The defendant confessed to have benefitted the sum of N2 million, which he used to purchase an iPhone 14 Pro Max. The device was recovered from him upon his arrest. The phone was examined by the forensic laboratory department and the forensic analysis revealed fraudulent documents,” he said.

Adeosun added that in the course of the investigations, Okoh raised a United Bank for Africa (UBA) manager’s cheque of N1 million as restitution.

The prosecution counsel tendered in evidence, Okoh’s confessional statement, the device recovered from him, findings from the investigation and the manager’s cheque with no objection from the defence counsel, Peter Taiwo.

In his judgment, Justice Aneke held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and pronounced Okoh guilty as charged.

He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment or to pay a fine of N1,000,000 (One Million Naira Only), to be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federation. In addition, he is to serve 100 hours of community service.

Dele Oyewale

Head, Media & Publicity

February 11, 2025

EFCC Arraigns Man for Alleged Refusal to Accept Naira as Legal Tender

The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, arraigned one Precious Chimaobi Uzondu on a two -count charge bordering on alleged refusal to accept Naira as a legal tender before Justice A.O. Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi , Lagos.

One of the count reads: “That you, Precious Chimaobi Uzondu, on the 10th of December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, refused to accept Naira (Nigeria’s legal tender) by accepting the sum of $5700 ( Five Thousand Seven Hundred USD) as a means of payment for a purchase of a Carter diamond bracelet with serial number (12345678) and you thereby lcommitted an offence contrary to Section 20 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.

In view of his pleas, prosecution counsel, Hannatu U. KofarNaisa, prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in a Correctional Centre.

Counsel to the defendant, Jennifer Achinuagole, informed the court of a pending bail application and prayed the court to adopt the same as her oral application.

Responding, KofarNaisa informed the court about a counter-affidavit to the application and a written address. She prayed the court to accept the same and discountenance the application by the defendant.

After listening to both parties, Justice Owoeye admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N5m, with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must own landed properties in Lagos, which must be verified by the court, and also swear to an affidavit of means.

The Judge also ordered the remand of the defendant in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre and adjourned till April 8, 2025 for commencement of trial.

Dele Oyewale

Head, Media & Publicity

February 11, 2025

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.

In view of his pleas, prosecution counsel, Hannatu U. KofarNaisa, prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in a Correctional Centre.

Counsel to the defendant, Jennifer Achinuagole, informed the court of a pending bail application and prayed the court to adopt the same as her oral application.

The Judge also ordered the remand of the defendant in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre and adjourned till April 8, 2025 for commencement of trial.

Dele Oyewale

Head, Media & Publicity

February 11, 2025

EFCC Arrests 13 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Benin City

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.

In view of his pleas, prosecution counsel, Hannatu U. KofarNaisa, prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in a Correctional Centre.

Counsel to the defendant, Jennifer Achinuagole, informed the court of a pending bail application and prayed the court to adopt the same as her oral application.

The Judge also ordered the remand of the defendant in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre and adjourned till April 8, 2025 for commencement of trial.

Dele Oyewale

Head, Media & Publicity

February 11, 2025

*PRESS RELEASE*.

2025 Budget: Snakes, termites, monkeys must not swallow $1.07 billion earmarked for health, Atiku warns

Former Vice President of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar has warned that claims of animals such as snakes, termites, gorillas and monkeys swallowing public funds must never be the fate of the funds budgeted for the critical sector of health in the 2025 Budget.

In recent years, there have been bizarre claims of animals being held accountable for missing public funds. Some of these fairytale-like claims were never investigated or punished to deter future offenders.

Against the backdrop of dwindling resources that has been exacerbated by the withdrawal of support in certain areas of our healthcare services, it is important that every kobo budgeted for the health sector has to be maximally utilised.

To this end, the Federal Government has to be deliberate about putting mechanisms in place for public audit and accountability in its US$1.07 billion budgetary appropriation in the health sector.

The former Vice President specifically queries the Federal Government for not providing comprehensive information on how it plans to expend the over one billion dollars in the primary health sector.

Atiku noted that while healthcare, especially the primary sector deserves rapid investment in order to promote access to quality and affordable health services to Nigerians, it will be immoral of the government not to provide extensive details of how the money allotted for the purpose would be dispensed.

“We have read that the Federal Government has a plan to expend a whooping sum of $1.07 billion in the primary health sector. This amount is in addition to the N2.48 trillion, which had earlier been proposed for the health sector in the initial draft of the budget.

“This development gets even more troubling when the government equally announced that the $1.07 billion it is adding to the health sector at the sub-national level was mainly sourced through foreign loans and a fraction of it being provided through an international donor agency.

“In other words, Nigeria is expected to pay these loans back and it is required that the Nigerian people know the details of these loans and that its expenditure must be conveyed in a policy envelop that will explain how it will be spent,” Atiku noted.

He says further that the failure of the Federal Government not to commit to a single physical infrastructure in expending the budgetary provision smacks of fraud.

According to the government, “the funds will be directed towards improving governance in healthcare and enhancing primary healthcare services nationwide. This financing will support recruitment, training, and retention of healthcare workers and teachers at the sub-national level…”

For an administration that has been known to have a deficiency of trust in the administration of its humanitarian services, Nigerians cannot take the risk of accepting a shoddy explanation on a budgetary provision that lacks a mechanism of tracking how the money is to be expended.

It is difficult for Nigerians to believe this current Federal Government given its proclivity to alternative truths – especially on their claims about investments in the social infrastructure.

It is worrisome that the Tinubu administration continues to lie to Nigerians on the status of our tertiary hospitals when the sorry state of those hospitals lay bare for Nigerians to see.

Just recently, the government began a campaign of improvements in the standard of our tertiary health institutions, but Nigerians know that these teaching hospitals often lack basic amenities such as access to a steady supply of electricity.

Undoubtedly, the Tinubu administration has failed woefully in the health sector because of the poor funding of the sector.

The major diseases in the primary health sector remain malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS treatment.

If President Tinubu’s administration meant well in its claim to prioritize the health of Nigerians, his government should explain how it plans to spend this intervention fund in addressing these diseases in the primary health sector.

On the contrary, what the government announced in its panic response to President Donald Trump’s announcement of the cancellation of American aids for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria was a paltry N5 billion.

If the Tinubu administration fails to provide a comprehensive framework to safeguard its purported huge investment in the health sector nor subject the appropriations to the scrutiny of the National Assembly, it may be safe to conclude that this is another episode of the administration committing a fraud in the name of public interest.

Signed:

Atiku Abubakar

Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007

Abuja

9th February, 2025.

PRESS RELEASE STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

*WABARA IS STILL THE UNSHAKEABLE PDP BOT CHAIRMAN, IGNORE THE PRO WIKE GROUP FAKE NEWS OF SUSPENSION OF PDP BoT Chairman, Ikenga Imo UGOCHINYERE OPPOSITION COALITION LAWMAKERS TELL NIGERIANS*

*Say suspension engineered by APC backed Pro-Wike group led by Anyawu, Ikpeazu etc*

Nigeria’s Opposition Lawmakers Coalition has urged Nigerians and party faithful to disregard the purported suspension of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Distinguished Senator Adolphus Wabara from the Party.

The Coalition in a statement by its Spokesperson, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere alleged that the suspension was engineered by the former National Secretary of the Party, Samuel Anyanwu, former governor of Abia State Okezie Ikpeazu and some others who are loyal to the minister of FCT, Nysesom Wike.

Ugochinyere dismissed the purported suspension, describing it as null and void and of no effect whatsoever not being consistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) and laid down Rules of the Party.

He added that Adolphus Nwabara remains the National Chairman of the BoT and there’s nothing these Pro Wike group can do.

The statement reads, “This is an attempt to ridicule the efforts of Adolphus Nwabara to help find sustainable solutions to these party problems. How can you say you’re suspending the national board of trustee chairman of the party? A member of the National Executive Committee. When i say that Samuel Anyanwu, Umar Damagum and Wike camp have gone crazy, people don’t believe it.

“The suspension is the figment imagination of these pro Wike group APC in PDP is dead on arrival, you cannot suspend the National board trustee chairman, that the constitution expressly forbids you. You can see that there’s nothing sacred to them, they are out to destroy this party. Now they’ve moved their political madness, attempting to destabilize the board of trustee. But i know the BoT members are eminent and they can see through this political madness. It’s a suspension that was conducted in FCT ministry as far am concerned. The National board of trustee chairman of our party remains, Sen. Adolphus Nwabara and there’s nothing these Pro Wike group can do.”

February 11, 2025

Press Statement

PDP NWC Dismisses Purported Suspension of Party BoT Chairman, Senator Wabara

The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to the purported suspension of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of our great Party, Distinguished Senator Adolphus Wabara from the Party

The NWC categorically dismisses the purported suspension as null and void and of no effect whatsoever not being consistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) and laid down Rules of our great Party.

For emphasis no State Working Committee has the power to suspend or take any disciplinary action against a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party without due recourse to the NWC as clearly provided under Section 57 (7) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017)

Section 57 (7) is unambiguous in providing that; “Notwithstanding any other provision relating to discipline, no Executive Committee at any level, except the National Executive Committee, shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, Deputy Governors or members of the National Assembly…”

The explicit import of Section 57 (7) is that the Abia State Chapter has no powers whatsoever to take any disciplinary action against the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, being a member of the National Executive Committee of the Party.

The PDP therefore condemns the purported suspension of Senator Wabara as reckless, unconstitutional and cautions those behind this act in defiance of the PDP Constitution to retrace their steps as the NWC will not hesitate to take appropriate disciplinary actions to preserve the stability of our Party and the sanctity of its Constitution.

The NWC calls on all leaders, critical stakeholders, members and supporters of our Party in Abia State, the South East Zone and indeed across the country to disregard the purported suspension.

Signed:

Hon. Debo Ologunagba

National Publicity Secretary

Press Release

FG Committed to Reducing Food Prices Through Agricultural Investments – Information Minister

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to lowering the cost of food commodities through massive investments in agricultural production.

Idris stated this in Abuja on Tuesday at a press briefing to kick-start the Ministerial Briefing Session for 2025.

He emphasized that while the government will not impose price controls on food commodities, in line with the principles of a free-market economy, it remains focused on reducing prices by boosting agricultural production and increasing supply.

“In the past, we used to have these commodity boards where prices were fixed but in the spirit of free market and encouraging entrepreneurship, especially within the agricultural value chain, government didn’t feel that it was necessary for them to begin to control prices. Now, what government is doing is to ensure that there is massive production of food items and it’s a supply and demand issue. Once you have whatever you need in abundance, the tendency is that the price will automatically come down,” he said.

While speaking on the successes in the security sector, Idris said in 2024, the security forces neutralized more than 8,000 terrorists and bandits, and arrested 11,600 others, with more than 10,000 weapons recovered.

He stated that with the government’s sustained efforts against terrorists and bandits, the nation’s highways are becoming increasingly safer.

“While we still have a lot of work ahead, our highways have grown safer. The hitherto notorious Abuja-Kaduna highway is one example. As I said, there’s still much more to be done, and we will not relent in our effort.

“Additionally, about 8,000 kidnap victims were successfully rescued. We will continue to work to drive down the number of victims while scaling up our success stories in terms of deterrence, crime-solving, and prosecutions,” he said.

The Minister added that, following their designation as a terrorist organization by a Federal High Court, security forces are now empowered to apply maximum force against the Lakurawa armed group.

On the economy, Idris stated that the Federal Government’s reforms are delivering significant results across key sectors, particularly with the removal of fuel subsidy, which has successfully plugged leakages amounting to hundreds of billions of Naira annually.

He said the introduction of the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS) in December 2023 has enhanced transparency in foreign exchange transactions and facilitated the clearance of billions of dollars in backlogs, and restored investor confidence to the country.

“Last week, the Naira reached an eight-month high in the official market, while foreign capital inflow into the Nigerian Stock Exchange rose from 4% in mid-2023 to an average of 16% by the end of 2024,” he said.

Additionally, he said, in 2024, Nigeria emerged as the most attractive destination for oil and gas investments in Africa, securing over $5 billion in Final Investment Decisions (FIDs).

The Minister described 2025 as a year of consolidation, building on the progress made in the first 19 months of the Tinubu administration as it approaches its mid-term.

“Over the next three months, as we approach the second anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration, we will bring Honorable Ministers to this platform, on a weekly basis.

“This year 2025 is a year of consolidation, a year for building on the gains we have seen in the first 19 months of the administration. This maiden edition for 2025 is an opportunity to remind us of these gains, and to set the context in which these gains are being recorded, as we proceed into the mid-point of this administration,” he said.

Rabiu Ibrahim

Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation.

February 11, 2025