Crime
BREAKING: Olukoyede Vows To Sustain Fight Against Corruption
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, on Monday, July 8, 2024, reiterated the Commission’ s determination to intensify the fight against both economic and financial crimes, and other acts of corruption without let or hindrance.
He stated this in Abuja while addressing representatives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) who were at the EFCC’s headquarters, Abuja on a solidarity visit.
According to him, fighting corruption is a collective responsibility of every stakeholder in the anti-corruption corridor, promising that the EFCC would not relent even as he charged Nigerians students to join the Commission in the fight.
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He said, “It is a collective responsibility to fight corruption in Nigeria. The EFCC will not relent, I promise you that whatever it is going to cost us to fight this fight we will fight it.
“As Nigerian Students, you have a future and it is our responsibility to protect you to ensure that you successfully run through your educational system and pass out and get a good job.”
Olukoyede insisted that leaders at all levels of government should be accountable to the people, pointing out that every opportunity to serve Nigerians should be considered as a privilege with readiness to offer maximum benefits to the people.
“There is nothing personal about it, what we are saying is we must be able to hold people accountable, if you have spent eight years, four yearS, even if it is one year, by the time you come out, the position you are holding is a position of trust on behalf of all Nigerians. So what we are simply saying is that when you finish, come, we want you to explain how you spent our common wealth while you were in the office”, he said.
He urged the youth to join hands with the EFCC and be foot soldiers of the Commission, as well as extending the message of the EFCC and support the good cause and direction of the EFCC to the thirty six states of the federation.
He thanked the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating the Students Loans Scheme adding that it will help the students in securing a better future.
He assured the students that the EFCC would work in concert with the handlers of the Scheme to ensure that its purpose is achieved.
Olukoyede also reacted to a shadowy group threatening to invade the Commission’s offices across the country in the guise of drawing their concerns to some operations of the EFCC.
“I know they are being sponsored by the people we are investigating”, he said.
He assured that there shall be no sacred cows in the anti-corruption fight. “Some of you have been asking questions about one or two people that we have been investigating. Don’t worry everybody will have his day in court, I promise you that”, he said.
He dismissed insinuations being made about recent operations of the EFCC in Akure and Lagos, explaining that out of the 127 suspects arrested in Akure, 113 were indicted and 80 already charged to court. In the Lagos operations, he disclosed that over 100 suspects arrested have been indicted for involvement in internet fraud.
He charged the students to be reform-minded and desist from anti-social tendencies.
One of the Student leaders, NANS’s Senate President, Senator Akinteye Babantunde stated that NANS came out to show support for the EFCC in its crusade against any form of corruption.
“We stand in full support of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and its relentless efforts in the anti-corruption war. This is not borne out of our personal aggrandizement but out of the desire to have a state that is firm and uphold the core values of integrity and honesty”, he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa over allegations of diverting N1.3 trillion in 13% derivation funds intended for Delta State during his tenure.
Okowa, who served as governor from 2015 to 2023, was detained after he voluntarily appeared at the EFCC’s Port Harcourt Directorate on Monday in response to an official summons.
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According to an EFCC source, Okowa is accused of failing to account for the N1.3 trillion derived from the federation account, as well as an additional N40 billion he allegedly invested in shares of UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
The investigation suggests that Okowa acquired an 8% stake in a major Nigerian bank to support the offshore LNG venture, with funds purportedly misallocated from state resources.
Beyond the LNG shares, investigators are probing whether Okowa redirected state funds to acquire high-value properties in Abuja and Asaba.
Okowa is currently held at an EFCC facility in Port Harcourt as the inquiry continues.
The high-profile arrest comes as Okowa, who was the vice-presidential running mate to Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, faces scrutiny over his financial conduct in office.
Amid repeated absences from court, the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an arrest warrant for Hathiramani Ranesh, Managing Director of Dana Air, who faces charges of fraud and conspiracy tied to alleged misappropriations totaling N1.3 billion.
The ruling, handed down Monday by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, calls for Ranesh’s immediate arrest following his failure to respond to multiple court summonses.
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Justice Egwuatu cited Section 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), empowering the court to issue an arrest warrant against defendants who evade appearance.
“The defendant is legally obligated to appear, and the court is authorized to issue a warrant for arrest if he does not,” Justice Egwuatu said, setting January 13, 2025, as the next court date, adding that no objections will be considered unless Ranesh is present.
Ranesh and two Dana Group subsidiaries—Dana Group PLC and Dana Steel Ltd—face serious allegations from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
Prosecutors claim that between 2014 and 2018, Ranesh and his companies engaged in fraudulent activities, including the unauthorized sale of industrial generators valued at N450 million, which had been pledged as collateral in a debenture agreement.
Additional charges allege the misappropriation of N864 million from bond funds meant for operations at the Dana Steel Rolling Factory in Katsina, and a N60.3 million transfer to an external account without authorization.
The charges, filed by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Moshood Adeyemi, cite violations under the Criminal Code Act.
In court, government lawyer Mojisola Okeya-Esho argued for the arrest warrant, stating that Ranesh had disregarded court orders to appear for arraignment.
Defense counsel B. Ademola-Bello challenged the prosecution, contending that jurisdictional issues must be addressed before proceeding with the case.
Justice Egwuatu dismissed these objections, underscoring that Ranesh’s presence in court is required before other arguments can be entertained.
The matter is now adjourned until January 13, 2025, with the warrant remaining active until the defendant is brought to court.
In a shocking act of violence, armed assailants targeted the Police Rapid Response Squad facility in Owerrinta early Monday morning, resulting in the tragic death of a female detainee.
The attack occurred shortly after midnight along the Umuahia-Aba Federal Expressway.
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State Commissioner of Police Danladi Isa confirmed the incident, revealing that the gunmen arrived in three Hilux vehicles and opened fire on the police facility.
“Our personnel successfully repelled the attack,” Isa stated.
However, the attackers resorted to using dynamite, causing significant damage to the building and exposing the detainees inside.
During the chaos, the gunmen attempted to free detainees, leading to the fatal shooting of the female suspect.
Unconfirmed reports suggest she was in custody related to a child trafficking case.
In the aftermath of the attack, police swiftly initiated a manhunt for the perpetrators, employing advanced technical methods to track their movements.
Commissioner Isa announced the arrest of one suspect, who is currently undergoing interrogation to uncover the identities of additional accomplices.
“We are making significant progress in our investigation,” he affirmed.
Authorities are calling on the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities as the investigation continues.
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