EFCC Discovers Huge Sum of Money in a Shop in Lagos

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) Discovers About N.5bn Hidden in a
Plaza Shop

The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, Lagos zone, this evening
uncovered yet another large sum of
suspected laundered money to the tune of
N448,850,000 (Four hundred and forty eight
million, eight hundred and fifty thousand
naira) only in a shop at LEGICO Shopping
Plaza, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island,
Lagos. The money stashed in several Ghana
Must Go bags were in N500 and N1000
denominations, hidden in a shop awaiting
conversion into foreign currency.

Relying on information provided by a
concerned whistle blower, operatives of the
Commision swooped on the shopping
complex and sought the identity of the
owners of two shops, LS 64 and LS 67 which
were under locks and keys. The shops had
signages of Bureau de Change. Inquries
about the owner of shop 64 indicated he had
not been seen for a long time, as they
claimed the shop had not been opened for
businesss for close to two years. Several
calls were put to the owner of shop 67 but
there was no response.

The attention of the plaza's chairman and
some traders were drawn in order to force
the shops open. There was no money found
in shop 67, but in shop 64, heaps of "Ghana
Must Go" bags were found loaded on the
floor of the shop. When the bags were
unzipped they were found to contain bundles
of naira notes totalling N448,850,000.
Traders interviewed at the premises claimed
they were not aware such money was
housed in there, as the place hardly opens
for business.

The Commission is investigating the matter
in order to unravel the owner and source of
the money.

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EXCLUSIVE: DSS Implicating Letter To The Senate Regarding Magu's Screening

Read the letter Department of State Services (DSS) sent to the Senate which made the Senators to deny Ibrahim Magu confirmation as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC):

RE: NOMINATION OF MR IBRAHIM MAGU MUSTAPHA AS EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC) SECURITY REPORT OF THE NOMINEE

Your letter NASS/CS /SA/01/17/ 08 /02 dated 7th March 2017 requesting for security report on the above named nominee refers.

“1. The security report being requested for on Ibrahim Magu MUSTAPHA the nominee for the Executive Chairmanship position of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has already been submitted to the Senate via this Services’ letter No. SV.114/ 2 of 3rd October 2016 containing fourteen (14) paragraphs. 
Please accept once again the assurances of the esteemed regards of the DGSS. F. O. ADAMS For: DIRECTOR-GENERAL, SS.

“2. August 2008, following a search at his residence during the tenure of Farida WAZIRI (AIG/Rtd) as the commission’s chairman, some sensitive EFCC documents which were not supposed to be at his disposal were discovered. He was subsequently redeployed to the police after days of detention and later suspended from the Force. 

“3. In December 2010, the Police Service Commission found Magu guilty of “Action prejudicial to state security, withholding of EFCC files, sabotage, unauthorised removal of EFCC files and acts unbecoming of a Police officer,” and awarded him severe reprimand as punishment. 

“4. Notwithstanding, sequel to the appointment of Ibrahim Lamorde as Chairman of the EFCC in 2011, he made the return of Magu to the EFCC a top priority. Both men had worked together at the commission when Lamorde served as Head of Operations of the agency. Magu remained a top official of the commission until he was appointed to succeed Lamorde. 

“5. Magu is currently occupying a residence rented for N40m, at N20m per annum. This accommodation was not paid for from the commission’s finances but by one Umar Mohammed (Air Commodore/Rtd), a questionable businessman and ally of subject who has subsequently been arrested by this service. For the furnishing of the residence, Mohammed enlisted the Federal Capital Development Authority to award a contract to Africa Energy, a company owned by the same Mohammed to lavishly furnish the residence at the cost of N43m. 

“6. Investigations show that the Acting EFCC Chairman regularly embarks on official and private trips through a private carrier, Easyjet, owned by Mohammed. In one of such trips, Magu flew to Maiduguri, alongside Mohammed and the MD of a bank who was being investigated by the commission over complicity in funds allegedly stolen by the immediate past Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke. 

“7. Furthermore, the EFCC boss has so far maintained a high profile lifestyle. This is exemplified by his preference for First Class air travels. On 24th June, 2016, he flew Emirate Airlines’ First Class to Saudi Arabia to perform the Lesser Hajj at the cost of N2,990,196. This is in spite of Mr. President’s directive to all public servants to fly Economy Class. 

“8. Investigation also revealed that Magu parades a twin personality. At one level, he is the czar who has no friends, no favourites and is ready to fight corruption to a standstill. However, with a key friend in the person of Umar Mohammed (Air Commodore/Rtd), a controversial businessman, he has betrayed the confidence reposed in him by the present administration. Whereas Magu portrays himself as very secretive, he has fostered a mutually beneficial relationship with Mohammed who, by his confession, approaches ‘clients’ for possible exploitation, favours and associated returns. This was facilitated with official secrets divulged by Magu and from which dealings he is believed to have been drawing considerable benefits. 

“9. This was evidenced by the number of official and classified documents he made available to his associates, especially Mohammed. After a search of Mohammed’s premises, a forged letter of the Office of the Vice President, dated 20th May, 2016, was recovered. The letter was a fictitious investigation report from Vice President to Mr. President, requesting for approval to commence further probe into a matter allegedly involving Hon. Minister of State Petroleum. Attached to the letter were two EFCC letters dated 13th April, 2016, and another 24th March, 2016, addressed to the Vice President being investigation reports on the activities of Emmanuel Kachikwu and his brother Dumebi Kachikwu. Similarly recovered during the search were information on assets and personal details of Kachikwu. 

“10. Also, following the arrest of three former Airforce chiefs by EFCC, namely, Alex Badeh, Umar and Amosu from whom huge sums of money and property were recovered, Umar and Alex Badeh were arraigned in court. It was only after the arrest of Mohammed by this service that the EFCC hurriedly arraigned Amosu. Mohammed later confessed that he never wanted Amosu tried, describing him as his former boss and he saw in MAGU, a willing accomplice. 

“11. Furthermore, findings revealed that in a bid to settle some personal scores, subject placed one Stanley Inye Lawson on a Security Watch Action, while in actual fact Lawson was working in the interest of the Federal Government. However, the action was later expunged following the discovery that Lawson was falsely accused by Magu for personal reasons. 

“12. The circumstances surrounding Magu’s return to EFCC at the instance of the former chairman, Lamorde, and their close working relationship ever since is a clear indication of his culpability in the allegations of corrupt tendencies of the Lamorde led EFCC. 

“13. To cover his tracks, Magu uses only his police cronies to execute operations. This, coupled with discoveries that such police cronies have acquired a lot of landed property, lends credence to the questions about his integrity. 

“14. In the light of the foregoing, Magu has failed the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption drive of the present administration.” 15. Accept the assurances of the esteemed regards of the DGSS, please.

Credit: Folashade Bello

Falana Condemns Senate Rejection of Magu

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana, has criticised the Senate’s rejection of Mr Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Mr Falana described the rejection, based on a security report by the State Security Service, as the height of official ridicule of the office of the President.

According to the human rights lawyer, “It is high time the State Security Service was restrained by President Buhari from sabotaging the fight against corruption by the Federal Government”.

He also said the confirmation hearing hurriedly conducted on Wednesday was illegal, citing the participation of many senators who are either under investigation or being prosecuted by the EFCC.

He described it as a contravention of the Rules of the Senate which stipulates that matters which are sub judice shall not be discussed by the Senate.

Mr Falana, however, noted some other options open to the President.

“Mr Magu’s nomination may be re-presented to the Senate if and when the Federal Government decides to put its house in order.

“Alternatively, the President may allow Mr Magu to remain the Acting Chairman of the EFCC since he was appointed in that capacity pursuant to section 171 of the Constitution.

“But if the President is not satisfied with Mr Magu’s performance, he is at liberty to appoint another person whose nomination will be forwarded to the Senate in accordance with section 2 (3) of the EFCC Act, 2004.”

PROFILE: SEACHLIGHTS ON SULAIMAN BAKARI

Left: Yakubu Dogara, Speaker House of Rep. Right: SULAIMAN BAKARI

SB is a hard worker; some friends call him "workaholic."

According to Helen Keller, "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement". Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. Of a truth, they are all in every living being, that is, hope and confidence. It is only left for an individual as the case may be, to propel them into action. One such individual whose ambition exemplifies true mirror of hope and confidence is Sulaiman Bakari; an emblem of prosperity, the seat of wisdom, a go-getter per excellence, a colossus fellow and a trained trainer. The ice-breaker and a humble husband and father.

This humble man exudes in him full courage, selflessness and result-oriented engagements. He is only one, yes one, who cannot do everything, but can do something. He is one who would never refuse to do something he can do.

It was on 27th August sometime in the 70's, in Jalingo Local Government Area of TARABA STATE that Sulaiman Bakari was born. Parts of his life while growing up were spent in Jalingo also spent in Gurin, Adamawa state and Kaduna, Kaduna State Nigeria. He is the 11th child born to the highly revered Family of Alhaji Bakari Muhammed of Majidadi Ward Jalingo (May Allah rest his soul, Ameen) and Hajiya Fadimatu Muhammad.

Sulaiman started out on his journey of acquiring knowledge not knowing just where fortune would lead him. He acquired excellent Islamic knowledge and western education.

The track was laid from Mohammadu Tukur Primary School in Jalingo and Gurin Central Primary School in Adamawa State, in the early 80s to the early 90s respectively, where he obtained First School Leaving Certificate between 1984 and 1991. From there he proceeded to Government College Jalingo, where he obtained the West African Examination Certificate (WAEC) in 1997.

The search for knowledge grew further and the unquenchable zeal to acquire more burnt in young Sulaiman. He took to the plains of academics as a duck does to water. So, when the bells of the most prestigious Northern school rang, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State, Sulaiman proceeded there. He obtained Bachelor of Arts Degree in History in 2005.As it is routine with every Nigerian, graduation beckons for service to our fatherland. As such upon successful graduation he was posted to FCT Abuja for the mandatory National Youth Service, where he served with the National Boundary Commission from 2006 to 2007, a service he performed diligently and uprightly.

Having completed the NYSC sometime in 2007, Sulaiman was shortlisted into the services of The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as the operative of the Commission. He was afterwards trained as an Economic and Financial Crimes investigator in February 2008 and was fully commissioned in same year as an Assistant Detective Superintendent (ADS). He rose through the ranks over the period of about 10 years to become a Senior Detective Superintendent (SDS) the position he holds till date. Mr. Bakari has had the opportunity to attend so many professional courses both local and international. He was also opportune to be trained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI, USA, as Fundamental Criminal Investigative Analyst, April 2015, at West Africa Regional Training Centre, Accra Ghana.

Despite the complexities of the job, he stopped at nothing, but to further developed himself academically. In 2012, he obtained a Master Degree in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, yet again from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Having worked thus far, the EFCC in 2015 deemed it fit to post Sulaiman to the National Assembly as its National Liason Officer. He resumed duty there on the 1st December, 2015 to date. His presence was felt immediately as he lobbied the relevant committees of both chambers to get more funding to the Commission and more funding to the commission's priority projects such like the EFCC headquarters, which has been under construction since the past 6 years. As a result of these efforts more funding was allocated last year, 2016 and more is expected this year, 2017. In addition to all these, he equally works round the clock to track all the pending bills before the NASS with a view to fast tracking them so as to pass them into law thereby encouraging and energize the current fight against corruption in the country.

His presence at the National Assembly equally gave him the opportunity to represent the Commission exceedingly well in most functions and engaged in numerous management programs. Most worthy of note is that while serving at the National Assembly, Sulaiman participated in some special national projects in conjunction with the leadership of the National Assembly and shared some outstanding ideas as they relate to the Current fight against Corruption in the country.

Mr. Bakari is fondly called: "the only Senator and House of Representative Member at the same time." This is no doubt connected with the fact that he represents the EFCC at both houses of the National Assembly. These assignments over the years at EFCC and the National Assembly put together has help build an enviable leadership skills in him, and this opportunity motivated his spirit. He is unequivocally capable of carrying out whatever task that may be given to him.

SB has received numerous awards one which received recently was presented with a 'Youth Achievement Award" by Youth for Change Initiative. This is a clear pointer to the fact that the trust reposed on him was engraved with huge gains and worthy of emulation by everyone who represents a people or his organization. Their voice was clear during the award presentation, which signals a clarion call to serve even in higher capacities.

Sulaiman Bakari, is married to Fatima from family of a well respected Diplomat; Ambassador Sani Bala.

Sulaiman has three kids namely: 

1. Fatima Sulaiman Bakari (Zahra)
2. Amina Sulaiman Bakari (Iman) and  
3. Sulaiman Sulaiman Bakari (Sameer).

SB is a hard worker; some friends call him "workaholic." He is a go-getter and very diplomatic in pursuing things he wants to get.

Right from his boyhood days he has been an advocate of justice and fair play for all. He has equally been a leader right from time. He was a prefect in his primary and secondary schools, a student union leader at various levels during his university days. Till date he has maintained the trend, little wonder why he is described as an upright, smart, intelligent and very reliable EFCC officer.

Ultimately, his greatest achievement as far as I know is maintaining his career; that requires almost the whole time in the world while sustaining a happy marriage with responsible kids. 

This humble man exudes in him full courage, selflessness and result-oriented engagements. He is only one, yes one, who cannot do everything, but can do something. He is one who would never refuse to do something he can do.

Compiled By: David Adam Ocholuje of WINGATE MEDIA