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EFCC arraigns man for depositing fake €482,000 in bank

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The trial of Saidu Abdullahi, continued on Friday with the first prosecuting witness, Chuks Igboerika, revealing to the court how the defendant had deposited fake Euro notes to the tune of €482,000 at the Ajah-Lekki branch of Access Bank.

Abdullahi’s case is before Justice A.O. Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Abdullahi, who was arraigned in November 2021 on a three-count charge bordering on an alleged €482,000 counterfeit fraud, allegedly deposited the fake Euro notes 93 different times into 58 different accounts at the branch between April and August 2021.

One of the counts reads: “That you, SAIDU ABDU ABDULLAHI, on or about 30th April, 2021, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession 12 pieces of 500 Euro counterfeit bank notes knowing it to be counterfeit and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 5(1)b of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act No. 22 of 1984.”

Another count reads: “That you, SAIDU ABDU ABDULLAHI , on or about 30th April, 2021, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, uttered 12 pieces of 500 Euro counterfeit bank notes knowing it to be counterfeit and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 5(1)a of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act No. 22 of 1984.”

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He pleaded “not guilty” to the charge preferred against him.

At the resumed sitting today, Igboerika, who is Team Lead of Investigation at Access Bank, during cross-examination, narrated to the court how he and his team conducted an internal investigation that led to the discovery of the fake currencies.

Igboerika had earlier stated in his examination-in chief, while being led by the prosecution counsel, Ebuka Okongwu, that the defendant deposited the total sum of €482,000 at the Ajah-Lekki Expressway branch of the bank.

He further revealed that the defendant contributed about 94% of the total Euro deposits in the branch between April and August 2021.

When asked by the defence counsel, J.H. Bashir, if he received the fake currencies, he said the currencies were received by the retail operation staff of the Bank’s branch.

According to him, “However, there were complaints from some customers of the bank who claimed that the money paid to them by the bank was fake after they had travelled with it. So also another bank who received the same Euros from us complained.

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“This prompted the Investigation Unit of the Bank to investigate and ascertain the source of the funds, which revealed that they were deposited by the defendant”.

When asked PW1 if the Bank is authorized to receive fake currency, he responded that “the bank is authorized to receive both local and foreign currencies. However, where fake currencies are detected, they are reported to law enforcement agencies and the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

Igboerika also revealed to the court that the defendant did not own a foreign account with the bank, but made deposits of the said funds into third parties’ accounts, who in turn withdrew the money from other locations of Access Bank, thereby dumping the fake notes at the branch of the Bank.

He added that upon their investigation at the bank, the fake currencies were submitted to the EFCC for forensic examination, which further proved that they were indeed counterfeit money.

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Responding to whether the money deposited by a customer belongs to a customer or the beneficiary, Igboerika said that a customer who makes a deposit at bank and fills the deposit slip is held accountable for any fake currency that may be discovered in the transaction.

Igboerika further told the court that the bank later found out during investigation that the currency note detector machine did not pick that the money was fake because the version of the fake currency deposited was cleared by the brand of the machine as legitimate.

This, he said, was because the machine was an older version.

Justice Awogboro adjourned the case to February 7, 2022 for continuation of trial.

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Woman jumps into Lagos lagoon, rescued by boat operators

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A yet-to-be-identified woman has been rescued after reportedly jumping into the lagoon from the Idumota end of the Carter Bridge in Lagos state.

The incident, which reportedly drew the attention of passersby and local boat operators, occurred on Tuesday afternoon.

According to eyewitnesses, nearby boat operators responded and brought the woman back to safety.

video circulating on social media showed the woman, seated in a rescue boat shortly after she was brought out of the water.

The footage, shared on X by a user identified as CHUKS, also showed people gathered on the bridge expressing concern about the woman’s condition.

Some bystanders could be heard appealing to the boat operators to ensure that she received appropriate care.

The circumstances surrounding the incident were unclear as of the time of filing this report.

Authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the incident or confirm the woman’s identity and condition.

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Police seize truck-load of fake drug warehouses in Lagos, arrest two

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The Lagos State Police Command says its operatives have uncovered two warehouses allegedly used for repackaging counterfeit pharmaceutical products and arrested two suspected members of a syndicate involved in the interstate and cross-border distribution of fake drugs.

Fatai Tijani, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command,  disclosed this on Monday while briefing newsmen at the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit in the Ijora Olopa area of the state.

The suspects, identified as Eze Okwudilichukwu, 52, and Chukwudi Mba, 42, were arrested during an intelligence-led operation by detectives attached to the unit.

The police boss said the suspects were apprehended at a warehouse located at Number 7A Otto Causeway, Otto, Lagos, where they were allegedly repackaging suspected adulterated pharmaceutical products for distribution to various parts of Nigeria.

He said the operation followed credible intelligence on the activities of the syndicate.

According to the police commissioner, “The suspects, Eze Okwudilichukwu ‘m’ 52 years, and Chukwudi Mba ‘m’ 42 years, were arrested at their warehouse located at No. 7A Otto Causeway, Otto, Lagos, where they were found repackaging suspected adulterated pharmaceutical products for distribution to different parts of Nigeria.

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“Following their arrest and interrogation, the suspects led detectives to another warehouse, where a duly executed search warrant was carried out. During the search, a truck loaded with large quantities of suspected adulterated pharmaceutical products, bearing registration number KFR 241 XA (Katsina), was recovered alongside other exhibits.”

The police boss said items recovered during the operation included about 300 cartons of suspected adulterated Omeprazole; six bags containing unpackaged suspected adulterated Viagra, Ampiclox, Septrin, Piriton, and other pharmaceutical products; and about 10 cartons of suspected adulterated Ampiclox, Viagra, and other drugs.

The CP noted that more than 300 empty printed packs and cartons were used to repackage counterfeit medicines.

According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicate had been involved in the repackaging and distribution of suspected adulterated drugs for over two years.

He added that detectives uncovered evidence suggesting that the products were supplied to different parts of Nigeria, while large consignments were also destined for Lomé, Togo, indicating the existence of a transnational distribution network.

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“The investigation also suggests that the suspected adulterated drugs are being manufactured somewhere within Lagos State.

“While the production facility has not yet been located, detectives have intensified efforts to identify and dismantle the factory, arrest all those connected with the operation, and bring them to justice,” Fatai said.

The commissioner also alleged that attempts were made to compromise the investigation after the suspects were arrested.

“It is pertinent to state that since the arrest of the suspects, desperate attempts have been made through different channels to induce officers of the Violent Crime Response Unit to release both the suspects and the recovered exhibits.

“I wish to categorically state that these attempts were firmly resisted. The Lagos State Police Command remains committed to professionalism, integrity, and the rule of law, and no amount of pressure or inducement will derail the course of justice,” he added.

Tijani said the suspects, recovered exhibits, and case file had been handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control for further investigation and possible prosecution.

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He explained that the handover was necessary because the case falls within the regulatory mandate of the agency.

The CP commended operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit for what he described as a professional and intelligence-driven operation while urging members of the public to provide useful information on the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit pharmaceutical products and other criminal activities.

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NDLEA uncovers cocaine hidden in wooden mortar, backpack bound for China, Italy

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have uncovered fresh attempts by drug syndicates to export cocaine concealed inside a traditional wooden mortar and a specially modified backpack destined for China and Italy.

This was contained in a statement released by Femi Babafemi, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, and shared on X on Sunday.

According to Babafemi, one of the consignments involved cocaine concealed inside a traditional wooden mortar, a local tool commonly used for pounding yam and grains, which was being shipped to China.

The agency added that another cocaine shipment destined for Italy was discovered concealed in the false bottom of a backpack hidden among lace materials.

He wrote, “Mortar is a traditional local wooden tool commonly used for pounding yams or grains but was used to conceal cocaine consignment heading to China in one of the latest seizures by #ndlea_nigeria officers who also discovered another shipment of cocaine going to Italy in the false bottom of a backpack hidden in lace materials.

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“Beware of every parcel you’re given to deliver. Remember the key word for liability is possession!”

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