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EFCC Appeals Acquittal Of Ex-Lagos Speaker In N338.8m Money Laundering Case

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has lodged an appeal against the acquittal of Adeyemi Ikuforiji, former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, over charges of money laundering.

Alongside his former personal assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi, Ikuforiji had been facing a 54-count charge brought by the EFCC in March 2012, involving the alleged laundering of N338.8 million.

After a drawn-out legal process lasting more than a decade, both men were acquitted by the Federal High Court in Lagos on June 24, 2014.

Read Also: EFCC-NJI Workshop:  Participants Move Against Courts’Frivolous Restraining Orders

In his ruling, Justice Mohammed Liman stated that the EFCC failed to provide sufficient evidence to convict the defendants.

However, dissatisfied with the outcome, the EFCC filed an appeal on September 30, 2014, represented by counsel Godwin Obla, challenging the judgement.

The EFCC argued that the trial court had erred in dismissing the charges as invalid, asserting that the charges were brought under the repealed Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act of 2004, which had since been replaced by the 2011 Act.

The commission further contended that both the 2004 and 2011 Acts applied to individuals, corporate bodies, and government entities, and claimed the lower court wrongly interpreted the law.

In November 2016, the Court of Appeal in Lagos sided with the EFCC, ordering a retrial of the case.

Ikuforiji and Atoyebi then took the matter to the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the appellate court’s decision.

However, the Supreme Court upheld the ruling, directing the case back to the Federal High Court for a fresh trial.

The case was subsequently reassigned to Justice Liman, who, after a retrial, again acquitted Ikuforiji and Atoyebi on June 24.

The EFCC had accused the two men of receiving cash payments in excess of the amount legally allowed by the Money Laundering Act, without involving any financial institution, and claimed that Ikuforiji had used his position to misappropriate Assembly funds.

The alleged offences, said to have been committed between April 2010 and July 2011, were said to violate several sections of both the 2004 and 2011 Money Laundering Acts.

Now, with the EFCC’s latest appeal, the legal battle over the charges of money laundering against Ikuforiji and Atoyebi appears set to continue.

 

Crime

Again, Diddy Faces Fresh Allegations Of Rape, Sexual Assault

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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, the 54-year-old music mogul, is facing a new wave of serious sexual assault allegations.

The latest lawsuits, filed on October 14, 2024, in the Southern District of New York, accuse the rap icon of raping, drugging, sodomizing, and threatening to kill multiple victims over the years.

Read More: Court Jails US Rapper, Sean Diddy Ahead Of Sex Crime Trial

These fresh claims add to Combs’ existing legal troubles, as he remains in a Brooklyn jail cell awaiting trial on separate sex trafficking and racketeering charges.

According to court documents obtained by Page Six, one of the new lawsuits alleges that Combs raped a then-19-year-old woman in 2004.

The victim claims she was invited to a photo shoot and then to Combs’ Marriott hotel room in Manhattan, where she was taken to a separate room during an “exclusive party.”

There, she alleges, Combs assaulted her and her friend and threatened to have them both killed if they did not comply with his demands.

In another lawsuit, an unnamed male victim alleges that Combs committed aggravated sexual assault in a Macy’s department store stockroom in 2008.

The man claims the incident involved Combs and two of his bodyguards, who allegedly threatened to kill him as the rapper performed a sex act against his will.

A third accuser, also male, alleges that Combs drugged and sodomized him in a van outside a “White Party” in 2006.

The man claims that when he pleaded for help, Combs dismissed his cries, allegedly telling him, “You’ll be alright.”

The final new lawsuit involves an unnamed female who accuses Combs of raping her in 1995 at a party promoting the late rapper Biggie Smalls’ “One More Chance” music video.

She alleges that Combs “violently” assaulted her before the sexual assault occurred.

All four lawsuits have been filed by attorney Tony Buzbee, who recently revealed he is representing more than 120 alleged victims in cases against Combs.

The Grammy-winning artist has consistently denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the federal charges in September. He remains in custody without bail as his legal battles continue.

 

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Tragic Ambush: Gunmen Kill Newly Appointed DPO, Others In Delta

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A tragic ambush early Monday morning claimed the lives of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and several of his colleagues near the Agbarho Rail Station, leaving another DPO in critical condition following a failed kidnap rescue operation.

The incident occurred around 1:00 AM, resulting in a violent exchange of gunfire between police forces and suspected kidnappers.

Read Also: BREAKING: Sports Minister Lampoons Libya, Applauds Super Eagles

Comrade Israel Joe, a prominent human rights activist in Delta State, shared details of the attack in a Facebook post, revealing that the new DPO of Agbarho, who had only begun his assignment two days earlier, was among those killed.

The DPO of Orerokpe, CSP Paul, was seriously injured and has been transported to an undisclosed hospital for urgent medical attention.

“I am deeply pained by this news,” Comrade Joe wrote, reflecting on a conversation he had with the Agbarho DPO just the day before the ambush. “He was taking swift action to address the conduct of his officers, and this loss is heartbreaking.”

In his post, Joe extended heartfelt condolences to the Nigeria Police Force and the families of the fallen officers, highlighting their courage in the line of duty.

“These officers gave their lives while protecting us. None of these criminals should escape justice,” he asserted.

As the investigation unfolds, efforts to reach the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, for further comment were unsuccessful at the time of this report.

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Crime

Air Peace Defends CEO, CFO Amid New U.S. Charges Of Obstruction, Fraud

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Air Peace has defended its Chairman and CEO, Dr. Allen Onyema, and Chief of Finance and Administration, Mrs. Ejiro Eghagha, following new charges brought against them by the U.S. Department of Justice for alleged obstruction of justice.

The charges, which extend a years-long legal battle, accuse Onyema and Eghagha of submitting false documents to derail an investigation into prior allegations of bank fraud and money laundering.

Read Also: Keyamo Warns UK Over Air Peace’s Heathrow Slot Denial, Threatens Retaliation

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the latest indictment accuses Onyema of submitting fraudulent documents in an attempt to halt a federal investigation into alleged financial crimes dating back to 2019.

The earlier case involved claims that Onyema defrauded U.S. banks of $20 million.

The new charges also allege that Eghagha played a role in both the obstruction efforts and the original fraud.

U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan stated that Onyema allegedly funneled over $44.9 million into his Atlanta accounts from foreign sources between 2010 and 2018.

He and Eghagha are accused of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme to secure export letters of credit for the purchase of five Boeing 737 aircraft for Air Peace.

The funds, transferred between 2016 and 2017, were supported by documents that U.S. prosecutors claim were falsified.

The indictment alleges that Springfield Aviation LLC, the Georgia-based company involved in the transactions, was owned by Onyema and managed by an individual without aviation expertise.

Furthermore, the company reportedly never owned the planes, and the appraisal documents were allegedly fabricated.

Responding to the charges, Air Peace issued a statement over the weekend, reaffirming the innocence of Onyema and Eghagha and stressing that the new allegations are a continuation of a prolonged legal process linked to previous accusations.

The airline expressed confidence in its legal team’s ability to prove the innocence of both executives, assuring the public that Air Peace’s operations will not be disrupted.

The statement reads, “These charges are part of an extended legal process stemming from earlier accusations of financial misdeeds. We remain confident that, through due process, the truth will be revealed, and our CEO and co-defendant will be exonerated.”

The company assured customers that its commitment to safety and service remains unchanged, and operations will continue as usual.

“Air Peace continues to operate without disruption, upholding our commitment to delivering top-notch services,” it added.

The charges against Onyema and Eghagha mark the latest chapter in a legal saga that has been unfolding for several years, with the airline’s leadership vowing to fight the allegations in court.

 

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