By Adedapo Adesanya

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned five individuals, including the former Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr Ahmed Kuru, and the chief executive of Arik Air, Mr Roy Ilegbodu, for allegedly defrauding the airline of N76 billion and $31.5 million.

The other defendants included former Receiver Manager of Arik Air, Mr Kamilu Omokide; and Super Bravo Ltd.

The defendants faced six counts of theft, abuse of office, and stealing by dishonestly taking property. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

It must however be noted that Mr Kuru voluntarily went to court to answer the charges filed against him by the EFCC.

During the proceedings, the defense counsel for Mr Kuru and Mr Ilegbodu, Mr Taiwo Osipitan, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), submitted bail applications dated November 28 and 29, 2024.

He argued that the defendants had no prior criminal records and had complied with prior administrative bail terms.

The SAN requested that they be granted bail under similar liberal terms, noting they had not attempted to flee.

However, EFCC Counsel, Mr Wahab Shittu (SAN), filed counter-affidavits on December 2 and 22, 2024, opposing the bail applications.

He argued that the charges against the defendants were serious, involving economic sabotage, and expressed concern about the risk of flight.

Mr Shittu proposed the seizure of their international passports and called for accelerated hearings.

The defense counsel for Mr Omokide, Mr Olasupo Shasore (SAN), filed a motion on December 6, 2024, requesting bail on self-recognition.

He pointed out that Mr Omokide had previously been granted administrative bail.

In response, Shittu opposed the application, citing Mr Omokide’s past failure to attend court, which led to the issuance of a bench warrant.

After considering the arguments, Justice Mojisola Dada granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N20 million each, with one surety per defendant in like sum.

The sureties must be gainfully employed, and proof of identification must be provided. The defendants were ordered to surrender their international passports.

The case was adjourned until March 17, 2025, for the commencement of trial.

The anti-graft agency had accused the trio— Mr Kuru, Mr Omokide, and Mr Ilegbodu— of fraudulently converting N4.9 billion to the use of NG Eagle Ltd in 2022.

Additionally, Mr Ilegbodu was charged with stealing N22.5 million, fraudulently converting it to the use of Magashi Ali Mohammed, a property of Arik Air Ltd.

Furthermore, the defendants were accused of authorising the destruction of an aircraft valued at $31.5 million, prejudicing Nigeria’s economic stability and Arik Air’s interests.

The prosecution claimed the offences violated Sections 73, 96, 278(1), and 278(6) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

By Bon Peters

The Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Port Harcourt, Rivers States, has expressed confidence in raking in higher earnings in 2025 after it generated about N200.6 billion in 2024.

A statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Oscar Ivara, a Superintendent of Customs, said last year’s revenue was higher than the N116.3 billion collected in 2023 by 72.41 per cent or N84.3 billion.

He quoted the Comptroller of the command, Mr Mustapha Hashim, as attributing “this impressive surplus” to the hard work, dedication, and operational improvements within the command, which he insisted have helped increase revenue while improving compliance with customs regulations.

He noted that the command’s strategic focus on enforcement operations and ensuring compliance with customs regulations have significantly contributed to the increase in revenue even as he applauded the improved monitoring systems, increased patrols, and enhanced collaboration with other enforcement agencies which he emphasized have played a critical role in curbing smuggling activities and improving revenue.

Continuing, Mr Hashim gave a breakdown of the 2024 revenue figures of the command to include N184.2 billion in the first quarter of 2024, with an estimated monthly collection of N15.4 billion, which he said was later reviewed upwards to N230.3 billion with monthly expected collection of N19.2 billion in the second to fourth quarters of the year.

The agency, however, reported an annual revenue target shortfall collection of about 13.04 per cent, which was largely attributed to the federal government’s food import waiver policy, introduced in July 2024, to mitigate Nigeria’s worsening food crisis.

“The presidential directive, which ended on December 31, 2024, gave waivers to essential food items such as wheat, maize, and grain, which are the major goods imported through the command,” he stated.

In the area of export activities, Mr Hashim posited that the command made notable strides in boosting revenue from agricultural products, which he referred to as a key indicator to Nigeria’s economic diversification.

“This focus has increased export facilitation and boosted the command’s contribution to national revenue,” he said.

He added that the total quantity of cargoes exported in the year 2024 was 17,352,817 metric tons with FOB at $1.5 billion, while the NESS paid was N2.9 billion for both oil and non-oil exports.

The statement also disclosed that a total of 289 ships called at the Area Command in 2024, with import tonnage comprised of bulk cargoes such as wheat, frozen fish, salt, oil well equipment, PMS, AGO, gypsum, bitumen and general cargoes which amounted to 4,080,654.198 metric tons and the duties collected from the bulk cargoes and excise factory   contributed to the huge revenue collected in the command.

He said the feat was achieved by advocating full compliance of all customs regulations by ensuring maximum collection of customs duties, levies and payment of all unpaid assessment.

Mr Hashim said with the command’s focused approach, dedication and continued support from partners and stakeholders, the revenue generation, anti-smuggling and trade facilitation drive for 2025 will be effective, promising that the command would deploy all necessary tools to ensure seamless clearance operations this year.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Over 850 cars forfeited to the Nigerian government across various locations in Nigeria will be auctioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a statement from the agency has revealed.

The anti-money laundering organisation said the vehicle were seized by the government through court orders from persons involved in various financial crimes, including corruption, money laundering, and cybercrime.

The agency said the auction is in line with the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, Public Procurement Act, 2007 and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery & Management) Act, 2022.

It called on interested members of the public to participate in the auction, promising that the process will be transparent and fair.

The exercise will be conducted by the EFCC in partnership with appointed auctioneers in Lagos, Abuja, Benin City, Enugu, Ilorin, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, and Kano from January 20 to 27, 2025.

“The general public is hereby notified that the @officialEFCC through its appointed auctioneers will conduct e-Auction of the under listed vehicles that are subject of final Forfeiture orders in accordance with the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, Public Procurement Act, 2007 and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery & Management) Act, 2022,” the statement read.

Below are the cars to be auctioned by the EFCC;