EFCC CHAIRMAN
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has 59 suspects on its Wanted List for various fraudulent activities totaling approximately N435 billion and $397,758,000. (about N165bn).
The offenses range from money laundering to obtaining money through deception, fraud, internet-related offenses, and the issuance of a forged check.
In a notice signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, the commission displayed images of the wanted persons as well as details of their alleged crimes on its website.
It urged anyone with information about the whereabouts of the aforementioned individuals to contact any of the commission’s offices, as well as the nearest police station or other security agencies.
The single most serious crime on the list was that of one Maxwell, who was wanted by the EFCC in an alleged case of conspiracy, obtaining money by deception, and money laundering totaling N213 billion.
He ran a trading and capital firm where many investors’ funds were trapped.
Meanwhile, on his Facebook page, where he posed with various celebrities, several commenters who allegedly invested in his forex trading business asked him to refund their money, while others cursed him.
Madu Prince, one of the commenters, wrote, “Oga, please, we are dying.” Please return our capital.”
A former personal assistant to a former governor of Kwara State was also accused of signing for and laundering N12 billion belonging to the state government. The suspect was said to have violated the commission’s bail conditions and remained incommunicado.
A Nigerian, identified as Hima, was declared wanted by the commission over alleged criminal conspiracy, contract scam, misappropriation of public funds, money laundering and fraud to the tune of $394m, €9.9m and N369m.
He was alleged to have received the sum for the purchase of equipment for the Nigerian military. It was later discovered that there were discrepancies in the supply of the equipment.
Similarly, four Rivers State Government officials, comprising three men and one woman, were declared wanted by the commission over suspected N117bn fraud, alleged criminal conspiracy, money laundering, and misappropriation of public funds and abuse of office.
Also, a native of Plateau State, identified as Noel, was declared wanted in a case bordering on conspiracy, theft and money laundering to the tune of N131m. He was said to be a former staff of First City Monument Bank in Birni Kebbi, Kebbi State.
Similarly, a 27-year-old Yusuf, who hails from Ibeju Lekki in Lagos State, was declared wanted over alleged conspiracy and business email compromise to the tune of $2.2m, while one Sewanu, also from Lagos, was declared wanted for alleged false pretence, names-dropping and fraud to the tune of N32m.
A certain Oluwole is on the list for allegedly receiving fraudulently imported apples worth $158,000 from a South African company. He was said to have refused to remit the payment for products.
In a related development, a female banker from Ondo State allegedly forged a customer’s documents and fraudulently obtained N27m loan facility using the customer’s fixed deposit as collateral for the loan. Also, another female banker from Ogun State allegedly forged treasury bills certificate worth N27m and gave them to a customer in exchange for the money.
An Israeli, identified as Doron, was also declared wanted for obtaining money under false pretence, stealing and forgery. A woman is also on the list for collecting aircraft parts worth $1.4m from a Russian company and evading payment. She was said to have been involved in another N1bn fraud.
Some of the cases are already in court while some jumped the administrative bail granted to them by the EFCC.
Meanwhile, in the March edition of EFCC Alert, the monthly e-magazine published by the commission’s Media Unit and obtained by our correspondent, the commission’s chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, stated that the commission was not being teleguided by anyone.
He stated that the EFCC used intelligence in its operations and that all of its cases were bailable.
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He expressed concern about the prevalence of cybercrime among young people.
I believe it is a major issue that Nigerians should recognize and address; we must act. “We must collaborate,” he added.
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