EFCC Finally Identifies Owner Of $2.1 Million Seized Cash

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) yesterday said it had traced about $2.1million (N413million) seized at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos to a former Executive Secretary of a federal parastatal.

The commission said it might be forced to declare the man wanted if he does not show up for questioning.

The agency said all attempts to locate the man in Lagos and Abuja proved futile.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on July 3 arrested a bureau de change operator, Mr. Ibiteye John Bamidele, at MMA Terminal 2 (MMA2) Lagos with the cash.

The Head of Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mitchel Ofoyeju, said Bamidele was arrested by anti-narcotic officials, who suspected that the cash was to be laundered.

The NDLEA handed over the suspect to the EFCC on July 8, following his confession that he was on money laundering errand for the ex-official.

It was, however, learnt that all attempts by the EFCC to interrogate the suspect had failed.

A top source in the agency said: “The EFCC has finalised a plan to declare the former parastatal’s chief wanted, over a $2.1million money laundering case.

“The anti-graft agency has been on his trail for weeks, since a certain Ibiteye John Bamidele named him as the owner of a $2,198,900 haul, recovered from him by men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

“Ibiteye was arrested on July 3, 2015 at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos by the NDLEA and handed over to the EFCC on July 8, for further investigation.

“The suspect, upon interrogation, named as the owner of the money, but all efforts to locate him both in Lagos and his known address in Abuja proved futile.”

The Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said: “We have plans to declare the man wanted. We urge anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact the Commission or the nearest police station.”

The nation

Man excretes 44 wraps of cocaine

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended a 29-year-old fashion designer, Okechukwu Kingsley Ajaero over unlawful importation and possession of forty-four (44) wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine weighing 850grammes.

Ajaero was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos during the inward screening of passengers on a Qatar Airline flight.

NDLEA Airport commander Hamza Umar said he was coming from Sao Paulo with cocaine.

The suspect, who hails from Abia State, Umar said, excreted 44 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine weighing 85 grammes.

The suspect in a statement released by NDLEA blamed his arrest on operational mistake on the part of his business partner.

He said: “I am a fashion designer by profession. I went to Brazil two years ago in search of better working conditions. This is my first time of trafficking in drugs and I got involved through friends.

“I was expecting 30,000 Euros as my profit. My business partner was to collect the drug from me while on transit in Qatar but he failed to show-up. I was compelled to come to Nigeria with the drugs but I excreted 30 on board the aircraft.”

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade said that the Agency will continue to pay attention to passengers coming from Brazil, saying “Brazil is a source country for cocaine and we shall continue to beam our searchlight on this route. Those who seek to enrich themselves through drug trafficking shall be arrested and prosecuted”.

Giade called on members of the public to assist the Agency in reporting suspected cases of drug trafficking, production and abuse for necessary action.

The NDLEA boss added that it is risky to shield drug traffickers because their activities undermine public safety.

Thenation

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