The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced on Thursday that it is investigating several bank executives for various offenses.

The agency also reported that a preliminary investigation report on former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, has been submitted to President Bola Tinubu.

The EFCC disclosed that about five bank executives are currently serving jail terms in custodial centers across the country.

This was revealed by the Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwajaren, who highlighted the achievements of the commission under Ola Olukoyede’s leadership.

While Uwajaren did not disclose the names of the bank executives under investigation, he emphasized that the banking sector has not been overlooked in the past year.

He said, “It’s just for us to look back and realise that EFCC has never shifted focus from any sector. Between 2009 and 2011, at least five bank executives were investigated and served their jail terms. There are still some that are under investigation.

“They are not politicians. Bank MDs are not immune to investigations or prosecution by the EFCC. We cannot mention names until those things are concluded.“

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On Betta Edu, Uwajaren said, “I don’t know the outcome. But I believe that we have submitted a preliminary report to the president. And I believe that we are still on the matter.

“The last time I checked, we mentioned the number of bank accounts that we were monitoring. We were looking at about 140 accounts. And we know it takes time to look into and get the required information.”

On the investigation of controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky’s allegations, Uwujaren said he could face a fresh charge from the commission if the allegations against the EFCC are false.

Bobrisky had in a voice note shared by controversial social critic Martins Otse, aka VeryDarkMan, allegedly said he bribed EFCC officers with N15m to drop money laundering charges against him.

Although the EFCC denied the allegations, it set up a committee to investigate the matter.

Providing an update, Uwujaren stated that one could be charged for giving false information to the EFCC, let alone making false allegations against the commission.

He said, “There is a portion of the EFCC Act that states if you give false information, you can be tried, but in his case, it is an allegation against the agency. I don’t want to preempt the panel investigating the matter. Once we are through with the investigation, we will definitely brief you on the outcome.”

Reeling out the success of the commission under Olukoyede, Uwujaren said a total of ₦248bn has been recovered.

He also said four former governors and three former ministers have been prosecuted under Olukoyede.

Uwujaren said, “Ola Olukoyede’s one year as EFCC Chairman, beginning from October 18, 2023 to October 18, 2024, the Commission has charged four former governors, namely: Yahaya Adoza Bello (Kogi), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Willie Obiano (Anambra) and Darius Dickson Ishaku (Taraba), to court for alleged corruption.

“Two former ministers of power have been arrested and facing prosecution by the Commission. They are Saleh Mamman and Olu Agunloye. A third is a former minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika.”

He also noted that in the past year, the EFCC, under Olukoyede’s watch, secured 3455 convictions across all categories of financial crimes and corruption.

“Also in the one year of Olukoyede’s leadership, the EFCC recorded $105,423,190.39; £ 53,133.64; €172,547.10; T1,300.00; CAD $ 3,400.00; ¥74,859:00 (Seventy-Four Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Nine Chinese Yuan); AUS $ 740:00; 170:00 UAE DIRHAM; 73,000:00 KOREAN WON; CFA 7,821,375:00 to R 50:00,” he added.

He said more than 35 were convicted for Naira abuse.

“The convicts cut across different classes of society, with Idris Okuneye (a.k.a. Bobrisky) and Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, a Nollywood actress who bagged six months imprisonment, topping the chart of high-profile convicts in this regard. Another offender, Pascal Chibuike Okechukwu (a.k.a. Cubana Chief Priest), had his charges compounded and was fined,” he stated.

A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has sentenced Henry Nathaniel Ekanem, a final-year student of the University of Port Harcourt, to 14 years in prison on charges of internet fraud.

Justice A.T. Mohammed delivered the sentence following Ekanem’s arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on seven counts related to impersonation and obtaining money under false pretenses.

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Ekanem was found guilty of defrauding multiple victims, including Diana Roskov, out of $22 and other sums.

According to the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, Ekanem had posed as “Coran Capsha,” the manager of American musician Chris Stapleton, and used WhatsApp and Instagram to deceive his victims. Ekanem admitted his guilt when the charges were read in court.

Defense attorney F.T. Fred-Boufini pleaded for leniency, arguing that Ekanem had no prior criminal record and was a first-time offender.

However, Justice Mohammed imposed a two-year prison term for each of the seven counts, totaling 14 years, with an option for Ekanem to pay a fine of N200,000 per count to the Nigerian government.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of all mobile devices recovered from Ekanem, as they were classified as proceeds of crime.

Additionally, Ekanem must sign an affidavit of good behavior before the court as a condition for his release after serving his sentence or paying the fines.

Operatives of the Abuja Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),  have arrested seven suspected internet fraudsters.

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They were arrested on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at the Kubwa axis of  the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), following credible intelligence about their suspected involvement in internet-related fraud.

Items recovered from them include 13 phones of different brands  and one car.

The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.