N1.4bn fraud: EFCC arraigns Kogi Assembly candidate, 2 others

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Kogi State House of Assembly candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for Ankpa 11 Constituency, Ismaila Yousuf Atumeyi, and two others before the Federal High Court sitting Lagos over an alleged N1.4 billion fraud.

The other defendants are Ngene Joshua Dominic and Abdulmalik Salau.

The EFCC, through its counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, preferred an 18-count charge bordering on concealment of proceeds of fraud, money laundering, and cybercrime against the defendants before Justice Tijjani Ringim.

Oyedepo told the court in a charge numbered FHC/L/651C/2022, that the defendants committed the alleged offences between August and October, 2022 in Lagos.

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He said they conspired to “directly conceal” the N1.4 billion in the account of Fav Oil and Gas Limited, “which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 18 (a), 15 (2) (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

The defendants were accused of laundering the sum in tranches of N100million, $480,000, N12.5million, N7million, N9million, N7m, N12m, N8m, $140,000, and N326,400,000.

They were alleged to have acquired a N12.5 million black Mercedes Benz C300, N7 million BMW 3 Series, N9 million Black Range Rover, N7 million Toyota Hilux 2014 upgraded to 2021, N12 million Black BMW SURXI 2016, N8 million White Toyota Hilux 2010, and N10 million White Toyota Hilux.

The court also heard that they allegedly directly transferred N80 million to Frank Maya Integrated Ventures, acquired a property known at No. 8, Grace Crescent, Efab Crescent, Efab Queens Estate, Grarimpa, Abuja, and concealed $140,000 and N326,400,000 in a Black Escalade SUV.

Oyedepo, who prayed for accelerated hearing of the case, said the anti-graft agency intends to call six witnesses against the defendants.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

After taking bail applications by their counsel, Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, and counter arguments by Oyedepo, Justice Ringim adjourned the matter till Tuesday for ruling.

The Star