Crime
N2bn Pension fraud: Court orders final forfeiture of Abdulrasheed Maina’s property
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered final forfeiture of at least 20 property linked to the convicted former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a judgment, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt that the property, located in deferent parts of the country, were acquired illegally.
According to Justice Abdulmalik, the applicant effectively discharged its responsibility, under the law, to establish that the property were acquired with proceeds of crime.
The judge also held that the “various individuals, who responded to an earlier interim forfeiture order, requiring interested parties to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited, failed to establish their ownership of the affected properties with credible evidence.”
Out of the 23 property listed in the schedule, three of them were left out, which include Flat 42C, SMC Quarters, Unguwan Dosa, Kaduna; Plot 18, Road F, on TPO 462B C of O Kd5469 and Plot of C of O Bo/426 Beacon B5086, B5087, B5105, B5104, B5099 Cadastral Zone B05 Utako.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Maina’s wife, Laila, who claimed to be a citizen of the United States, and some of his relatives and associates, including Uwani Usman, Alhaji Aminu Yakubu Wambai, Haruna Mu’azu Musa and Aliyu Abdullahi, had claimed ownership of the 23 property.
The anti-graft agency had earlier obtained an order of interim forfeiture of 23 property linked to Maina, currently on eight-year jail term for pension fraud to the tune of N2 billion.
Delivering the judgment on Thursday, Justice Abdulmalik agreed with lawyer to the EFCC, Farouk Abdullah, that those who claimed to owned the property failed to effectively establish the alleged ownership by producing credible evidence.
She said: “It is trite in law that civil cases in non-conviction forfeiture are hinged on the preponderance of evidence.
“Again, I hold that the respondents have failed woefully in tilting the scale of evidential weight in their favour.
“In all, sequel to the facts and documentary detailed evidence relied on by the applicant (the EFCC) in support of this application for final forfeiture, I do hold that the evidential burden of proof indeed shifted to the claimants to establish by way of cogent documentary evidence, the sequential trail of the genesis of their finances leading to the buildup as well as the the acquisition of the aforementioned properties subject of interim forfeiture.
“In view of this grave omission on the part of the claimants (Maina, his wife and his associates) to show good and credible cause on the history of their legitimate earnings, I hereby find merit in applicant’s application for final forfeiture of properties Nos: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22 and 23 set out in schedule one, attached to the order of interim forfeiture, save properties No: 3, 14 and 20. I so order.”
The affected properties are located in Abuja, Nasarawa, State Kaduna State and Kano State.
They include “Plot No: 965 Gwarimpa 1 District, Cadastral Zone: CO2, covered by C of O No: 1afew-fe28z-63a5r-e36eu-10.
“Duplex located at No: 16 A Katuru Road, Kaduna.
“52B, SMC Quarters, Unguwan Dosa, Lot 016, comprising of 3 bedroom semi-detached bungalow.
“Property at Tola Street, Badarawa, Kaduna, comprising of three bedrooms and an undeveloped land.
“Plot Y12, Kano Street, Kawo New Extension, Kaduna.
“A duplex located at No: 21, 52 Crescent , Kubwa Phase 1V estate
“House 8, 211 Road, a close numbered FHA/EST/264/TA/032.l, 3 bedrooms bungalow.
*Farm at Dorawa, Karshi Development Area, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.
“Another farm at Dorawa, Karshi Development Area, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.
“Plot 3A, Sambo Road, Unguwan Rimi, covered by C of O No: KD15452.
“Plot MF-27A, New Pasafi Layout, Kuje, Abuja.
“Plot 1B Ajayi Road, Unguwan Rimi, covered by C of O numbered: NC24059
“Block 23 Flat 2 located at Life Camp (2 bedroom semi-detached.
“Property at No: 62 A/C Maternity ward , Damaturu Road, Biu
“Plot 3A, Sambo Road, Unguwan Rimi covered by C of O No: KD15452 comprising of uncomplicated buildings.
“Plot covered by C of O B426 beacon: B5086; B5087; B5105; B5104; B5099 at Cadastral Zone B05, Utako.
“No: 16 Dabai Road, off Mangoro Road, Sokoto State.
“No. 13 Korau Road, Nasarawa District, Kano.
“Plot 965 Cadastral Zone C02, Gwarimpa, FCT, Abuja.”
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, fixed Sept. 26 for arraignment of another two senior staff of Rural Electrification Agency (REA) by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for alleged N1.84billion fraud.
The officials, who are being prosecuted separately, are Aminat Asuni and Laure Abdullahi.
They were part of the five others already arraigned by the ICPC before sister courts.
Justice Nkeonye Maha fixed the date after ICPC’s counsel, Mrs P.N. Emeka, sought an adjournment to enable the commission serve the defendants with the charges.
When the two matters were called, Emeka informed the court that the defendants were evading arrest.
She, however, applied for an adjournment to enable her effect the service of the processes on Asuni and Abdullahi before the next adjourned date, and Justice Maha fixed Sept. 26 for the defendants to take their plea.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)!reports that the ICPC had filed two separate charges against Asuni and Abdullahi.
In the first charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/207/2024, the anti-corruption commission filed four-count charge dated May 8 and filed May 10 against Asuni, while Abdullahi was also preferred with four-count charge numbered: FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2024, and filed same day.
Asuni was alleged to have, sometime in March, 2023 or thereabout while being a public officer in the employment of REA Abuja and with intent to defraud the agency, received the sum of N336 million in different tranches through her Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) account number: 0022457813 under the false pretence of project supervision.
On his part, Abdullahi was alleged to have, within the same period and with intent to defraud the agency, received N433 million in different tranches through his GTB account number: 0023343114 under the false pretence of project supervision.
The act was said to have contributed to economic adversity of REA.
The offence is contrary to Section 1(1)(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, among others.
The two officials were being charged for diverting the N336 million and N433 million belonging to the agency.
Reports that the money formed part of the N1.84 billion allegedly misappropriated by seven top officials of REA, including Abubakar Sambo, Director of Finance and Account of the agency.
Other staff members under prosecution are Henrrientta Onomen Okojie, Usman Kwakwa, Emmanuel Pada Titus and Musa Umar Karaye.
They were alleged to have conspired to divert the funds for personal use.
President Bola Tinubu had, on March 7, suspended Mr Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of REA indefinitely, alongside three executive directors of the agency.
President Tinubu appointed Mr Abba Abubakar Aliyu as the MD and CEO to replace Ahmad.
The suspension followed an investigation into the financial activities of REA.
According to Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President Media and Publicity, the conduct of the aforementioned officials was probed over misappropriation of N1.2 billion over the past two years, some of which had already been recovered by anti-graft agencies.
However, investigations by ICPC, weeks after Ahmad’s suspension, revealed that he had no link with the allegations.
Against this backdrop, the anti-corruption commission filed different separates charges against Sambo, Okojie, Asuni, Abdullahi, Kwakwa, Pada and Karaye before Justices Emeka Nwite, Bolaji Olajuwon and Maha of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
While Sambo had been arraigned before Justice Olajuwon; Okojie, Kwakwa, Pada and Karaye were arraigned before Justice Nwite; and Asuni and Abdullahi’s matters are before Justice Maha.
By Adeyanju Esther
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has reported the arrest of 243 suspected criminals between January and June of this year.
Commandant Dr. Olusola Odumosu disclosed this during an interview on Sunday.
Out of the 243 arrests, 123 suspects are facing pending court cases. Specifically, 159 individuals were apprehended for their involvement in illegal mining activities, resulting in 39 recorded cases handled by the Mines and Steel Department.
Moreover, 34 suspects were arrested for vandalising public infrastructure across various areas within the FCT, notably Gwagwalada, Lugbe, Wuye, and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). These cases have been documented and are being processed.
The Agro-Rangers unit contributed to the arrests by apprehending two individuals, one of whom is already facing charges in court following a communal clash between farmers and herders at Dafara Community in Kuje Area Council. The unit successfully intervened and mediated the conflict.
Additionally, the Command’s Intelligence and Investigation Department arrested 48 suspects involved in offenses such as cyber fraud, domestic violence, child abuse, and other civil cases.
Eleven criminal cases from this department have already been presented in court for prosecution, with ongoing investigations continuing for other arrests.
Dr. Olusola Odumosu emphasised that investigations are ongoing for some of the cases, and charges will be filed accordingly once completed.
In a dramatic turn of events, the quiet neighbourhood of Odunlami, Lagos Island, was thrown into chaos on Saturday afternoon, July 6, 2024, when a team of eight armed policemen stormed the residence of Mr. Owolabi Sanni. The officers arrived in a Toyota Hilux pickup truck, accompanied by a handcuffed man, intent on arresting Mr. Sanni, who is suspected of being a member of a gay club.
Our correspondent at the scene reported that the raid was part of a larger sting operation by the Nigerian Police Force, aimed at identifying and arresting members of a notorious gay club based in Delta State.
According to one of the officers, the police had received a tip-off regarding a gay wedding in Delta State, which led to the arrest of several individuals. The officer also noted that this was the second visit to Mr. Sanni’s residence, the first occurring in August 2023.
The handcuffed man, apprehended at the wedding, identified Mr. Sanni as a key club member. Further investigation revealed that Mr. Sanni’s fiancée, Miss Remilekun, allegedly caught him in a compromising position with another man in his apartment last year.
Miss Remilekun’s account was corroborated by a local grocery vendor, who recounted the distressing moment when Miss Remilekun visited her shop in tears, describing her shocking discovery.
The vendor, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed to our correspondent that Owolabi was caught by his fiancée in a compromising situation. “Remilekun has a cordial relationship with me and often buys groceries here during her visits to Uncle Owolabi,” she said.
She also mentioned that Miss Remilekun reported the matter to his family, who have not taken it lightly. Since the incident, Owolabi has disappeared from the area.
Further investigation revealed that a family member, wishing to remain anonymous, insisted on spiritual cleansing for the suspect. The family member, identified as Mr. Sanni’s brother, stated that they tried to prevail on him to undergo spiritual cleansing, but he refused and absconded.
“Because we couldn’t find him, we reported to the police to help us locate and possibly arrest him so we can take him for spiritual cleansing.”
Residents of the community were in disbelief, as Mr. Sanni is known to be a quiet, kind, and playful individual. One neighbour expressed shock, stating, “We have never seen such an act from the police force before and could not believe that Mr. Sanni is actually gay.
“They were here last year looking for him but couldn’t find him. At that time, they were not this aggressive. He is always nice and kind to everyone, so we are all surprised to hear the news. For the police to come again this year and be more aggressive means the issue is far more serious.”
Despite a thorough search, the police were unable to locate Mr. Sanni, as he was absent from his residence, and no one in the neighbourhood could provide information about his whereabouts. The police have urged community members to report any information regarding Mr. Sanni’s location to the Nigerian Police Force.
As the manhunt for Mr. Sanni continues, this incident has sparked discussions and concerns among the residents, who are grappling with the implications of such a high-profile raid in their otherwise peaceful neighbourhood.
The Nigerian Police Force remains resolute in its mission to bring all suspects to justice and has assured the public that they are committed to upholding the law and ensuring the safety and security of all citizens.
UBA GMD appointed Chairman, CIBN body of Banks’ CEOs
Abiodun sets 2 weeks deadline for completion of Denro/Ishashi/Akute road
