The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a lawyer for allegedly defrauding his victim of N1.3 billion.

The lawyer, Alexander Ozougwu is being prosecuted by the Uyo Zonal Command of the EFCC. The anti-graft agency arraigned the suspect at a Federal High Court in Uyo on 12 February.

In a statement on its website on Thursday, the Commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale said the lawyer disguised as a registered bureau de change operator with the Central Bank of Nigeria to defraud his victims.

Mr Oyewale said the victims — four of them — alleged that upon presenting himself as a bureau de change operator, the suspect earned their trust and collected the passwords to their betting accounts and promised that he was going to help them fund their accounts, but ended up diverting their funds.

“Investigation into the allegations revealed that the defendant was operating a Ponzi scheme under the guise of exchanging dollars for his victims and channelling most of the funds to various betting platforms. A total of N1, 323, 850. 000. 00 was discovered to have been diverted from the accounts of the petitioners,” the anti-graft agency said.

Charges
The lawyer was arraigned on six charges of obtaining money by false pretence, an offfence, the EFCC said is in contravention of provisions of Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

“That you Mr Ozougwu sometime in September 2024 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did take possession of the total sum of N268,850,000 through a bank account with account name-starlight attorneys which you knew formed proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: obtaining money by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.

“That you Mr Ozougwu sometime in July 2024 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this court, did take possession of N213,000,000 through a bank account with account name- starlight attorneys which you knew formed proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: obtaining money by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the money laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act,” the EFCC said.

According to the EFCC, the defendant, pleaded not guilty, prompting the prosecution counsel, Joshua Abolarin to pray the court to remand him at a Correctional Centre, pending trial.

The defence counsel C. M. Onuchukwu, however, informed the court of a bail application which he said was filed on self-recognisance for the defendant, and also assured the court that he shall make himself available for trial, the anti-graft agency said.

After listening to both counsels, the judge granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum.

“The sureties must be civil servants of grade level 12 and above and must have landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court. The court also ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport and two recent passport photographs with the court,” the EFCC said.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has sued one Oseni Adeolu Olayinka, an official of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, to court for alleged fraud, money laundering.

The civil servant was accused of secretly including his wife and son on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) portal of the ministry between 2023 and 2024.

Oseni Adeolu Olayinka was arraigned by the ICPC before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, facing a three-count charge related to money laundering.

In a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/584/2024, the commission accused Olayinka of acquiring millions of naira by including his wife and son on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) portal of the ministry between 2023 and 2024 and corruptly receiving salaries through his wife’s and son’s accounts, thereby committing an offence of money laundering.

One of the counts against him read: “That you, Oseni Adeolu Olayinka (M), Executive Officer, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Abuja, between January 2023 and April 2024 or thereabout, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly took possession of the sum of N2,843,524.41K (Two Million, Eight Hundred and Forty-Three Thousand, Five Hundred and Twenty-Four Naira, Forty-One Kobo) through the Stanbic IBTC Bank account number 0040450514 belonging to your wife, Mrs. Mngohol Christiana Agaku, which funds you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

Olayinka, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges read to him.

This prompted his counsel, Paul Asimiakeokha, to move an application for him to be granted bail on very liberal terms, which was not opposed by the prosecution counsel, C.K. Igwedibia.

Ruling on the bail application, Justice Egwuatu committed the defendant to a N5 million bond with a surety who must be a civil servant not below grade level 12 in the federal civil service.

Additionally, the presiding judge said that the surety must provide his/her employment and promotion letters and must have a landed property in Abuja, which must be verified.

The matter has been adjourned to the 29th of April for the commencement of trial.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has urged the public to disregard the allegations made against him by the former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr El-Rufai on Monday accused Mr Ribadu of being behind his ordeal with anti-graft agencies. He alleged that Mr Ribadu was doing so because he is interested in succeeding President Bola Tinubu in 2031.

In his response, Mr Ribadu said in a statement that he has not discussed contesting in 2031 with anyone.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I want to put it on record that I have never discussed running for president in 2031 with anybody. All my focus and energy are geared completely towards the advancement of Nigeria and the success of the President Tinubu administration,” he said.

Messrs Ribadu and El-Rufai were friends and allies during the Obasanjo administration and that of the late Umar Yar’Adua. However, both men have become political adversaries although they are both members of the ruling party, APC.

In his statement, Mr Ribadu alluded to their history.

“If my silence wouldn’t risk being construed as consent, I would have ignored him. I am too preoccupied with my current assignment as to get into a media fight with Nasir El-Rufai or anyone else.

“Despite the incessant baiting and attacks I have never spoken ill of Nasir on record anywhere. This is out of respect for our past association and our respective families. I will not start today.”

Read the full statement below.

I WON’T JOIN ISSUES WITH NASIR EL-RUFAI

My attention has been drawn to the interview granted by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State Monday evening.

If my silence wouldn’t risk being construed as consent, I would have ignored him. I am too preoccupied with my current assignment as to get into a media fight with Nasir El-Rufai or anyone else.

Despite the incessant baiting and attacks I have never spoken ill of Nasir on record anywhere. This is out of respect for our past association and our respective families. I will not start today.

I however urge the public to disregard El-rufai’s statements against me.

For the avoidance of doubt, I want to put it on record that I have never discussed running for president in 2031 with anybody. All my focus and energy are geared completely towards the advancement of Nigeria and the success of the President Tinubu administration.

I therefore ask Nasir El-Rufai to allow me face my onerous national assignment just as I do not bother myself with his own affairs.

Nuhu Ribadu