Foreign fraud rings spreading tentacles in Nigeria – EFCC warns  

The EFCC has raised concerns over the growing presence of foreign fraud syndicates in Nigerian cities.  According to its chairman, Ola Olukoyede, these criminal groups are recruiting young Nigerians into cybercrime, particularly cryptocurrency fraud.   During a meeting with participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), Olukoyede revealed that these syndicates are not only engaging in online scams but may also be involved in smuggling weapons into the country.  READ ALSO: Ochaigede and the lost vision: a community relations revelation He stressed that the illegal flow of arms and minerals is fueling insecurity.   Recent EFCC operations in Lagos led to the arrest of 194 foreigners from various countries, including China, the Philippines, Tunisia, and Eastern Europe. Many of them lacked valid visas and were conducting financial transactions primarily through cryptocurrency.  Some of those arrested were already convicted criminals in their home countries who had fled to Africa for refuge. Investigations suggest that similar fraud networks are developing in other African nations.   The EFCC has called for stronger collaboration among security agencies across Africa to tackle cybercrime and money laundering. The agency stressed that addressing these threats is crucial for national and regional security.   READ ALSO: Would Abiola have attended the conclave for Babangida? Meanwhile, the National Institute for Security Studies commended the EFCC’s efforts in fighting corruption and financial crimes.  It acknowledged the agency’s role in uncovering hidden financial networks used to fund non-state actors, contributing to instability in Nigeria and beyond. The EFCC remains committed to dismantling these criminal networks and ensuring accountability.

Alleged $9.6bn P&ID scam: I’ve no witness to call, Briton tells court

The British national, Mr. James Nolan, who jumped bail in the ongoing trial linked to alleged 9.6 billion dollars Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) Ltd scandal, on Thursday, said he does not intend to call any witness. Nolan told Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court in Abuja through his lawyer, Michael Ajara. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in the 20-count charge, named Micad Project City Services Limited and Nolan as 1st and 2nd defendants in the money laundering offences. Nolan and Micad Project, a company where he is a director, were arraigned in May 2022. READ ALSO: ADDRESSING CHALLENGE OF FREQUENT GRID COLLAPSE IN NIGERIA The duo pleaded not guilty to the charge and Nolan, who is also a director in P&ID Ltd, was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre. After he met his bail conditions of N100 million with a surety and was admitted to bail following the variation of the bail from N500 million, Nolan stopped attending court proceedings and fled Nigeria. Nolan was declared wanted by the court and an order was made for his arrest anywhere he is sighted. The EFCC lawyer, Bala Sanga, equally applied that Nolan should be tried in absentia and the prayer was granted. Although the fleeing Briton was arrested by the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) in Italy on Jan. 27, 2024, during a visit he paid to his wife, he was yet to be extradited back to Nigeria to face his trial. READ ALSO: $225.8M Debt: Court Orders Arrest of Crude Oil Cargo linked to Mr. Obaigbena Meanwhile, when the matter was called on Thursday, Sanga told the court that the business of the day would have been for the prosecution to call their last witness. “But upon review of the case, we found that it is superfluous and therefore  we are dispensing with the last witness,” he said. Nolan’s counsel, Ajara, said he had no objection to the anti-graft agency lawyer’s submission. He, however, said that after the evaluation of the EFCC’s evidence, they would be relying on the prosecution’s case. “Based on the evidence already before the court adduced by the prosecution, we shall be resting our case on theirs. “So we don’t intend to call any witness,”:he told the court. READ ALSO: FIRS Gets Plaudits from NASS For Collecting N21.6trn in Tax Revenue Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter until March 10 for adoption of final written  addresses of the parties. It would be recalled that a sister court presided over by Justice Donatus Okorowo had, on July 3, 2024, ordered the closure of two companies linked to Nolan, over the involvement in the P&ID Ltd fraud. Justice Okorowo, who had since been elevated to the Appeal Court, in two separate judgments, held that the two companies were found guilty of money laundering offences. Consequently, Okorowo ordered that the companies be wound up and their assets be forfeited to the federal government. The companies were Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited and Resorts Express Concept Nigeria Ltd.

UK Sacks Over 600 Police Officers 

The UK has dismissed nearly 600 police officers across England and Wales in the year leading to March 2024, according to newly released data.  This increase, a sharp rise from the previous year’s 394 dismissals, reflects a renewed focus on accountability within police forces following a series of high-profile scandals.  Among those removed from duty were 74 officers involved in sexual misconduct and 18 found with indecent images of minors. The College of Policing reported that dishonesty topped the reasons for dismissal, with 125 cases, followed by instances of discriminatory behaviour.  This wave of sackings comes amid efforts to restore public trust after severe breaches in conduct, including the 2021 murder of Sarah Everard by a Metropolitan Police officer and other cases of sexual violence by police personnel.

More woes for Yahaya Bello as EFCC placed him on interpol watchlist 

Yahaya Bello Pays N497m WAEC Fees For 15,033 Students

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has placed former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello on INTERPOL’s watch list in three North African countries of Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria. Recall that the ex-Governor had earlier been put on the watch list of Egypt, Libya and Sudan. The anti-graft commission said the recent action followed an intelligence that the Bello may try to run to any of these countries. The watch-list was also activated ahead of the July 17 expected appearance of the former governor before a Federal High Court in Abuja. Bello is facing a 19-count charge for alleged money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N80.2billion. The ex-governor has denied the allegation and has consistently failed to appear before the trial Judge, Justice Emeka Nwite on June 13 and June 27.   At the last hearing, Bello filed an application for the transfer of his trial to the Federal High Court, Lokoja, the Kogi State capital. Speaking on the situation, the EFCC source said, “Ahead of the next hearing of the case, EFCC has activated many options, including taking a concrete action to watch-list Bello in North Africa. “We are aware of a botched exit to Morocco via Cameroon. We are determined to stop him from going on exile. “From Singapore, the EFCC executive chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede was in Tunisia where he delivered a paper at a session on illicit financial flows. Thereafter, he had a meeting with all the heads of INTERPOL in North Africa on the intelligence on the ex-governor. “He formally asked INTERPOL to place Bello on Red Alert in all North African countries and it was accepted. “The watch-list has taken immediate effect. He will be arrested in any part of North Africa. We took this step because we are suspecting that he had been bidding time not to be available for arraignment. “We expect Bello to be in court to prove his innocence. EFCC has to do its work to avoid bad precedent.”