Efcc Arrests Former Govenor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva

The former governor was arrested by the Efcc after he played a boyish hide and seek game with the operatives of the agency when they arrived his home.

Read the Efcc press release below;

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today (May 8, 2013) arrested the former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva. He was picked up at his No. 3, Niger Street, Maitama, Abuja home. On arrival at the facility at about 10.00 am, the Commission’s operatives were told that the ex-governor was not in town but they insisted on conducting a search of the house having obtained a warrant from the court. 

During the search, vital documents were obtained. Ironically, the ex-governor who was said to be out of town was later found hiding in a dingy corner in the upper chamber of his expansive mansion.

EFCC Takes Possession of Ex- Bayelsa Governor Sylva's Properties

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday said it had taken possession of 48 properties belonging to the former governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Timpre Sylva.

Sylva is standing trial at a Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged N6.46bn fraud. He was first arraigned on Tuesday, June 5, 2012.

A statement by the spokesperson for EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, in Abuja said the interim forfeiture was informed by a court order granted by Justice A. R Mohammed last December 21.

He said, “Assets belonging to the former governor against which a forfeiture order was obtained by the EFCC include a mansion at 3 River Niger Street, plot 3192 Cadastral zone AO, Maitama District Abuja; nine units (comprising six one-bedroom and three two-bedroom apartments) at 8 Sefadu Street Wuse zone 2, plot 262 Cadastral zone AO2, Wuse Abuja; two unit duplexes at 5 Oguta Street, plot 906 Cadastral zone Wuse 11 Abuja.

EFCC Releases First Batch of Fuel Subsidy Fraudsters to be Prosecuted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has concluded arrangements to prosecute the first batch of suspects implicated in the oil subsidy fraud. The suspects, comprising seven oil companies and 11 individuals, will be docked in Lagos courts.

The companies involved are: Nasaman Oil Services; Eternal Oil and Gas Plc; Ontario Oil & Gas Plc; Nadabo Energy Limited; Pacific Silver Line Limited, Axenergy Limited and Fago Petroleum and Gas Limited.

The 11 individuals involved in the scam are: Mamman Nasir Ali; Christian Taylor; Mahmud Tukur; Ochonogor Alex; Walter Wagbatsoma; Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi; Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer; Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele; Abubakar Ali Peters; Jude Agube Abalaka,  Abdulahi Alao and Oluwaseun Ogunbanbo.

Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele is director of the accounting firm, Akintola Williams Deloitte while Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer is a staff of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulating Agency, PPPRA.

Italian Fraudster Commits Suicide in EFCC Custody

Mr. Mauro Zanin

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the death of a 52 year old Italian, Mr. Mauro Zanin, who died in the bathroom of the Commission’s detention facility in Abuja, early Tuesday morning.

A statement by the EFCC’s spokesperson Wilson Uwujarena, stated that the Mr Zanin who was arrested for fraudulently obtaining the sum of $111,000 from Gladwaters Nigeria Limited, passed away, two days before he was scheduled to appear in court.

According to the statement, the Italian was “found motionless in the bathroom of the Commission’s detention facility in Abuja at about 4.50 am on June 19, 2012”, adding that “he had apparently committed suicide using his bed sheet.”

“Zanin took his own life a day to his scheduled arraignment. He was supposed to be arraigned before the Federal High Court (5) in Abuja on Wednesday, June 20, 2012.”

All effort by the duty officers and a team of EFCC medical personnel led by Dr. Gideon Osi of the Commission’s Medical Unit to revive him with cardiopulmonary resuscitation proved futile and he was subsequently certified dead at about 5.45 am.

Though all clues point to suicide, the incident has been reported to the Nigeria Police Station, Maitama for investigation.

The deceased was arrested by Officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service following a complaint by one Ahamefula Chibuzor Ewuzie that he fraudulently obtained the sum of $111,000 from Gladwaters Nigeria Limited.