The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, declared the former chairman of Ikeja Hotels Plc, Mr. Goodie Ibru, wanted.
A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, reads: “The public is hereby notified that Goodie Minabo Ibru is wanted by the EFCC in connection with a case of conspiracy, capital market fraud, stealing, diversion of funds and money laundering.
“He diverted billions of naira and assets of Ikeja Hotels Plc, owners of Sheraton Hotel, Lagos; Federal Palace Hotel and Capital Hotel; owners of Sheraton Hotel Abuja to his personal benefit.
“Anybody having useful information as to his whereabouts should contact the commission through any of its offices located in Abuja, Kano, Gombe, Lagos, Ibadan, Maiduguri and Port Harcourt.”
It will be recalled that the EFCC, last year, filed an 11-count criminal charge totalling N1.8 billion against Goodie Ibru and three firms at the High Court of Lagos State.
The firms listed in the suit marked LD/1711C/2015 are: Associated Ventures International Limited, IHL Services Limited and Clearview Investment Limited.
According to the charge endorsed by counsel to the anti-graft agency, A.B.C. Ozioko, Ibru and the firms, between January and December, 2010, allegedly conspired among themselves to steal by fraudulently converting the sum of N867.7 million, property of Ikeja Hotels Plc. Ozioko said the offence is contrary to section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap C.17, Vol.11 Laws of Lagos State.
The accused were also charged with intent to defraud and fraudulently convert for personal use the same amount of money during the same period.
The prosecution said the act offends section 370 (7) (b) and 9 of the Criminal Code Cap. C17, Vol 11. Count three of the charge alleged the accused person and the firms between June and October 2010, with intent to defraud, fraudulently converted to their personal use the sum of N55.1million belonging to Ikeja Hotels.
The EFCC, meanwhile, said it has not jettisoned investigation of former governors accused of looting state funds.
The agency’s zonal head, South South, Ishaq Salihu, said: “Without fear of being contradicted, a lot of PEPs (Politically Exposed Persons) are under investigation, as I speak to you. We are seriously investigating a whole lot of them. We have also made recoveries from some of them.
“On some of the recoveries, out of over N1 billion, over N550 million comes from these Politically Exposed Persons. But because of ongoing investigations and the essence of not jeopardising the investigation, I did not mention their names. It is not because we don’t want to. You have to weigh where you stand first,” he said
Salihu disclosed that the commission secured 44 convictions and recovered over N1.48 billion and $91,650 for both the Federal Government and individuals between 2015 to date.
“That we are not investigating past governors or that we are not investigating Politically Exposed Persons or important personalities is a lie. We are. In fact, I am bold to tell you that under the current chairman of the EFCC and President Buhari, we have recovered over N1.06 billion.
“He diverted billions of naira and assets of Ikeja Hotels Plc, owners of Sheraton Hotel, Lagos; Federal Palace Hotel and Capital Hotel; owners of Sheraton Hotel Abuja to his personal benefit.
“Anybody having useful information as to his whereabouts should contact the commission through any of its offices located in Abuja, Kano, Gombe, Lagos, Ibadan, Maiduguri and Port Harcourt.”
It will be recalled that the EFCC, last year, filed an 11-count criminal charge totalling N1.8 billion against Goodie Ibru and three firms at the High Court of Lagos State.
The firms listed in the suit marked LD/1711C/2015 are: Associated Ventures International Limited, IHL Services Limited and Clearview Investment Limited.
According to the charge endorsed by counsel to the anti-graft agency, A.B.C. Ozioko, Ibru and the firms, between January and December, 2010, allegedly conspired among themselves to steal by fraudulently converting the sum of N867.7 million, property of Ikeja Hotels Plc. Ozioko said the offence is contrary to section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap C.17, Vol.11 Laws of Lagos State.
The accused were also charged with intent to defraud and fraudulently convert for personal use the same amount of money during the same period.
The prosecution said the act offends section 370 (7) (b) and 9 of the Criminal Code Cap. C17, Vol 11. Count three of the charge alleged the accused person and the firms between June and October 2010, with intent to defraud, fraudulently converted to their personal use the sum of N55.1million belonging to Ikeja Hotels.
The EFCC, meanwhile, said it has not jettisoned investigation of former governors accused of looting state funds.
The agency’s zonal head, South South, Ishaq Salihu, said: “Without fear of being contradicted, a lot of PEPs (Politically Exposed Persons) are under investigation, as I speak to you. We are seriously investigating a whole lot of them. We have also made recoveries from some of them.
“On some of the recoveries, out of over N1 billion, over N550 million comes from these Politically Exposed Persons. But because of ongoing investigations and the essence of not jeopardising the investigation, I did not mention their names. It is not because we don’t want to. You have to weigh where you stand first,” he said
Salihu disclosed that the commission secured 44 convictions and recovered over N1.48 billion and $91,650 for both the Federal Government and individuals between 2015 to date.
“That we are not investigating past governors or that we are not investigating Politically Exposed Persons or important personalities is a lie. We are. In fact, I am bold to tell you that under the current chairman of the EFCC and President Buhari, we have recovered over N1.06 billion.
No comments:
Post a Comment