Gistlite

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, witness, Teslim Ajuwon, yesterday, told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, that Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, under Patrick Akpobolokemi as Director General, moved the sum of N8.5 billion, into the account of the Joint Task Force, JTF, Operation Puelo Shield.

Ajuwon, a Compliance Officer with a first generation bank, stated this in his evidence at the commencement of trial of a former Commander of the Military Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe. Atewe is being tried alongside Patrick Akpobolokemi, Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuaga over N8.5 billion fraud. They are been prosecuted by the EFCC on 11 counts bordering on the offence.

Ajuwon, led in evidence at the resumed hearing in the case, the prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, narrated that on the whole, NIMASA made an in-flow of cash to the tune of N8.5 billion into the account of the JTF, Operation Puelo Shield.

He informed the court that between September 5 and 16, 2014 a total of N1.8 billion was moved from the said account, into the accounts of Jaggan Ltd, Paper House Service Ltd, East Point Services Ltd and Al-nald Ltd.
Soure - Vanguard

Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro who was the former Minister of State for, has returned to Nigeria in an apparent move to present himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC after being accused of fraud.

Mr. Obanikoro has been having a running battle with the anti-graft agency on allegations bordering on financial crimes.

He left for the United States shortly after his party lost the 2015 elections and he ceased being a minister.

The EFCC accused him of using his children to take out government contracts that were never executed.

According to source, Mr. Obanikoro was also implicated in the Ekiti elections scandal which is on a separate charge. It is not immediately clear if he was prepared to answer questions about that, too.

At first, he vowed not to return to the country alleging persecution by the government as a means to discredit him.

It is not immediately clear when he planned to submit himself to the EFCC, but Demola Olarewaju, an associate of the politician confirmed his arrival.

Mr. Olarewaju said Mr. Obanikoro had moved to Abuja from Lagos and could visit the EFCC headquarters on Monday.

The Deputy Director of Operations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Iliyasu Kwarbai on Wednesday said the wife of former President, Mrs Patience Jonathan, would not go scot-free if found guilty of corruption.

Kwarbai, said this when he received a petition entitled: ‘Demand for arrest, prosecution of Patience Jonathan, probe of APC campaign fund and no more sacred cow in the anti-corruption crusade.’ against the former First Lady from a group of protesters, under the aegis of Human Rights Defenders and Advocacy Centre at the agency’s office in Ikoyi Lagos.

Recall that the anti-graft agency had recently confirmed that Mrs Jonathan is being investigated for money laundering,  but no case has been instituted against her in any court yet.