The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that a former Director of Nigerian Navy Accounts, Rear Admiral Tahir Yusuf Biu, is on the run and cannot be reached. SaharaReporters had reported that Yusuf was being prosecuted by the Nigerian government through the EFCC for allegedly stealing N2 billion while serving as Director of Nigerian Navy Accounts. The anti-graft agency said that all efforts to locate the whereabouts of Admiral Biu have proved unsuccessful since March 16 this year, when 9 counts were filed against him.
Alleged N2Billion Theft: Nigerian Ex-Naval Officer On The Run, Anti-Graft Agency, EFCC Claims After Audio Exposed Official Teaching Him How To Win Fraud CaseThe anti-graft agency said that all efforts to locate the whereabouts of Admiral Biu have proved unsuccessful since March 16 this year.
EFCC’s counsel, Mr Cosmas Obeta Ugwu, lamented that the defendant could not be found; hence, he could not be brought before the court to defend the criminal charges against him. The anti-graft agency also alleged that the former Naval Chief diverted $300,000 from a Navy personal account meant for the purchase of furniture for Navy Secondary School at Okura to his company account domiciled at Zenith Bank before he escaped to an unknown destination.
He subsequently fixed February 22, 2023, as the last adjournment for the EFCC to produce the defendant in court or have the charge struck out. “But the lawyer that represented at the high court did not do anything. He is a clueless and a useless lawyer. I went to the court, I saw the process and response, they filed forfeiture of his money on non-conviction basis,” he was heard saying.
“And based on the provision that he has proved to be a public servant and he works with the government of a country and he is still in service and all this money is not his entitlement, he has not acquired them. So, if he cannot show that the property or the money was acquired through other means, then he must forfeit the said property.
In 2020, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the permanent forfeiture of about N500 million found to be fraudulently amassed by the military officer. The fund was forfeited to the Nigerian government. Following the forfeiture, SaharaReporters gathered that Biu fled Nigeria to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Nigerian Anti-Narcotic Agency, NDLEA Seizes N20Billion From Drug Baron, Ukatu’s 103 Bank Accounts | Sahara ReportersNigeria's anti-narcotic agency, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized the sum of N20 billion found in 103 bank accounts that reportedly belong to the billionaire drug baron, Mallinson Ukatu. The Punch reports that NDLEA has also filed 23 counts against Ukatu and his six companies including Fruitroprics Industries Limited, Mallinson and Partners Limited, NISPO Porcelain Company Limited, MBL Multi-links Services Limited, NISPO Oil and Gas Limited and Urban Space Services Limited- before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Read more »
Anti-Graft Agency, EFCC Explains Why Former Nigerian President, Jonathan Was Not Grilled Over N4.6Billion Corruption Allegation | Sahara ReportersNigeria's anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) investigating officer, Shehu Shuaibu, has explained why its investigation team did not invite former President Goodluck Jonathan for questioning on the ongoing investigation of the N4.6 billion allegation. Testifying before Justice Daniel Osiagor of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Thursday, Shuaibu said that the N4.6 billion allegedly transferred into a Joint Trust account was used to finance the 2015 presidential campaign of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Read more »
Nigerian Court Adjourns Suit Seeking To Declare Alleged Organ Trafficker, Senator Ekweremadu's Seat Vacant | Sahara ReportersJustice M.G. Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu has fixed November 9 to hear the motion seeking to regularise the suit seeking to declare Senate Ike Ekweremadu's seat vacant. Ekweremadu, one-time deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, who hails from Mpu community in the Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, is representing Enugu West senatorial district at the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly.
Read more »
35-Year-Old Nigerian University Lecturer Wins $15,000 Swedish Research Grant | Sahara ReportersA $15,000 research grant from the International Foundation for Science (IFS) has been awarded to Mr. Maxwell Adeyemi, a lecturer at the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo State, Southwest Nigeria. $15,000 is approximately N11.4 million at the rate of N760 to $1 on the parallel market. The news was announced in a statement signed by Mr Paul Adeagbo, Deputy Director, Information, Protocol and Public Relations, OAUSTECH, on Wednesday in Okitipupa.
Read more »
Nigeria’s Tax Agency, FIRS Starts Direct Collection Of Taxes From Online Gaming Operators | Sahara ReportersNigeria’s tax agency, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has announced that it has commenced the direct deduction and collection of taxes at transaction points from online gaming companies using the Sentinal National Payment Gateway and Electronic Solution. This was made known in a statement by Johannes Oluwatobi Wojuola, the Special Assistant on Media & Communication to the Executive Chairman of the FIRS and made available to journalists on Wednesday.
Read more »