EFCC Smashes ‘419’
EFCC Smashes ‘419’ Syndicate that Defrauded a
Professor
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has cracked
down on a gang of fraudsters who specialise in exploiting personal
data of foreign-based Nigerians to defraud their friends and
relations back home.
Four of the gang-members – ‘Hon.’ Oladipupo Adebayo, Bimbo
Bilewu, Ibrahim Odunayo and Oyeleye Oluwatosi – are currently in
the EFCC custody. Others are still at large.
The Commission had launched a manhunt on the suspects after
receiving a petition from one Prof Godwin Ekhaguere.
The professor of Mathematics, who retired from the University of
Ibadan, alleged in the petition that the gang defrauded him of sums
totalling N565,500 (Five Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand, Five
Hundred Naira). He also alleged that the fraudsters made him to
part with MTN recharge vouchers worth N36,000 (Thirty-Six Thousand
Naira) in the deal.
According to him, he only realised that he had been scammed
after he managed to reach his friends on the phone, who denied
sending anyone to him. That prompted the petition.
It was in the course of investigating the allegations that the
Commission arrested Bilewu at an ATM point where he went to cash
the money sent to him by one Pastor Osuji.
Incidentally, Osuji was also a victim of a crime similar to that
which the Commission was investigating.
The gang’s patterns of operation are similar in nature. One of
them would call their would-be victim with the impression that he
was an old-time friend, now based abroad. He would claim that he
has a mouth-watering gift to be sent through someone who is
allegedly coming home for an event. The victim would then be handed
over to the ‘home-bound’ member. He would be the one to make all
sorts of requests ostensibly to clear some obstacles to delivering
the consignments from the foreign-based ‘relation’ or ‘friend’, as
the case may be.
Investigations into the gang’s operations revealed that they
have a mobile application used in making a local number appear
foreign to the call recipient.
They also use unregistered SIM cards to make their calls in
order to blur out chances of tracing their real identities.
Another trick to evade arrest, according to investigations, was
to open bank accounts in other people’s names and take over the ATM
cards from them. They direct their victims to pay into such
accounts and use the ATM cards to withdraw the cash.
The suspects have owned up to the allegations against them, and
are now helping the Commission in further investigations into
crimes of similar nature.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
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N2bn Fraud: Court Remands Maina in Prison
Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja on October
25, 2019, ordered that Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman, Pension
Reform Task Team be remanded in Nigerian Correctional Service
(NCS), while his son, Faisal was remanded in the custody of Police
Special Tactical Squad, Asokoro, Abuja.
The remand, followed their arraignment on multiple fraud and
money laundering charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC. While Maina was docked on a 12-count charge,
bordering on operating fictitious bank accounts, fraud and money
laundering, his son was slammed with three-counts of money
laundering, corruption and lack of full disclosure of asset.
Count 10 of the charges against Maina reads: “That you
Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina (alias Dr Abdullahi Faizal) between
2012 and 2016, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court,
took possession of an aggregate sum of N1,822,074,690.00 (One
Billion, Eight Hundred and Twenty-two Million, Seventy-four
Thousand, Six Hundred and Ninety Naira), through your Fidelity Bank
account (in the name of Dr Abdullahi A. Faizal), when you
reasonably ought to have known that the said funds, formed part of
the proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: corruption, and you
hereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the
Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as (amended) and punishable
under Section15(3) of the same Act.”
Count two of the charges against Faisal reads: “That you Faisal
Abdulrasheed Maina, (alias Alh Faisal Abdullahi Farms), between
October 2013 and June 2019, within the jurisdiction of this
honourable court, controlled an aggregate sum of N58, 111,585.00
(Fifty-eight Million, One Hundred and Eleven Thousand, Five Hundred
and Eighty-five Naira) only, paid through the United Bank for
Africa (UBA) account of Alh. Faisal Abdullahi Farms, when you
reasonably ought to have known that the said funds formed part of
the proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: corruption of one
Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina, who is facing a separate charge and
thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the
Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as (amended) and punishable
under Section15(3) and (4) of the same Act.”
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to their separate charges,
prompting the prosecution counsel, M.S. Abubakar to inform the
court that he has his witnesses in court in readiness to commence
trial.
However, the defence counsel, led by Ahmed Raji SAN, informed
the court that there was a pending bail application, filed since
October 22, which was due to be heard. He further argued that the
defendants are entitled to adequate time to prepare for their
defence.
But the prosecuting counsel, Abubakar described the bail
applications as incompetent because it was filed before
arraignment.
The Court however adjourned the matter to October 30 2019 for
commencement of trial and that proceedings shall be on day-to-day
basis.
Maina who had been hibernating in Dubai, United Emirates after
he fled Nigeria in 2015 to escape arrest by the EFCC, sneaked into
the country recently and was arrested, together with his son,
Faisal, at a hotel in Jabi, Abuja by officers of the Department of
State Service,DSS, on the request by the EFCC.
Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court, Abuja had
on Tuesday October 22, 2019 ordered the temporary forfeiture of 23
choice properties linked to the defendant. The order was based on
an exparte application by the EFCC, which argued in sworn
affidavits, that the properties are believed to be proceeds of the
illicit activities of the defendant. Consequently, the court
ordered the Commission to cause a publication to be made in a
national newspaper, inviting the defendant or any other person with
interest in the properties to show cause, within 14 days, why the
assets should not be finally forfeited to the federal
government.
The properties include: Plot MF 19, Cadastral Zone, Karu, Abuja
FCT. Acquired in mother’s name; Plot 18 Road F, Malali North East
Residential Layout. Kaduna ;Flat 42C, SMC Quarters, Unguwan Dosa,
Kaduna, Kaduna State. Acquired in suspected pseudo name; Plot No
965, Gwarimpa 1 District, Cadestral Zone, Abuja; Duplex Located at
No.16 A Katuru Road, Kaduna; 52B, SMC Quarters, Unguwan Dosa, Lot
016 Comprising of 3-bedrooms semi detached bungalow, Kaduna;
Property at Tola Street, Badarawa, Kaduna, comprising of 3-bedroom
and an undeveloped land; Plot Y12, Kano Street, Kawo New Extension,
Kaduna; a duplex at No. 21, 52 Crescent Kubwa Phase IV Estate,
Abuja; House 8, 211 Road, A Close, FHA Estate, (3 bedrooms
bungalow) Abuja and Farm at Dorawa, Karshi Development Area, Karu
LGA, Nasarawa State.
Others are: Farm at Dorawa, Karshi Development Area, Karu LGA
Nasarawa State. Karu LGA, Nasarawa state; Plot 3A, Sambo Road
Unguwan Rimi (comprising uncompleted buildings), Kaduna; Property
located at 16B/BG Gombe Road, Biu, Biu LGA, Borno State; Plot
MF-27A, new Pasali Layout, Kuje, Kuje Area Council, Abuja; Plot 1B
Ajayi Road, Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna; Block 23, Flat 2 located at Life
Camp (2 bedrooms semi detached), Abuja; Property at No. 62, A/C
Maternity Ward, Damaturu Road, Biu, Biu LGA, Borno State; Plot of
CofO Bo/426 beacon B5086, B5087, B5105, B5104, B5099 Cadestral Zone
B05 Utako, Abuja; Plot 37, Kinshasha Road, Maiduguri, Borno State;
No 16 Dabai Road off Mangoro Road, Sokoto, Sokoto State; No. 13,
Korau Road, Nasarawa District, Kano, Kano State and Plot 965
Cadastral Zone, CO2, Gwarimpa. Abuja.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity