• About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Saturday, August 2, 2025
  • Login
Vital News
  • Frontpage
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • National
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • More
    • Crime
    • Judiciary
    • Security
No Result
View All Result
  • Frontpage
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • National
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • More
    • Crime
    • Judiciary
    • Security
No Result
View All Result
Vital News
No Result
View All Result
Home Crime

Appeal Court Gives EFCC Nod To Prosecute Ex-AGF, Jonah Otunla For N26bln Fraud

...refunds N6.3billion to FG

Vital News by Vital News
February 1, 2023
in Crime
0
Appeal Court Gives EFCC Nod To Prosecute Ex-AGF, Jonah Otunla For N26bln Fraud
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Abuja – The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside the July 16, 2021 judgment barring the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from initiating either civil or criminal proceedings against former Account General of the Federation (AG-F), Jonah Oguniyi Otunla.

A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, in a judgment, held that Otunla failed to prove that there was actually a non-prosecution agreement between him and the EFCC.

The court upheld the arguments by EFCC’s lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN) and resolved the four issues, identified for determination, in favour of the commission, and against Otunla.

Justice Danlami Senchi, who read the judgment, noted that Otunla did not provide any written, except his words and that of his lawyer, that such an agreement existed.

Justice Senchi held that Otunla could not prevent his prosecution by merely claiming that there was an agreement, which existence he failed to establish with credible evidence.

RelatedStories

Insecurity : Police Arrest Over 20 Bandits In Kwara

Body Of Slain Kogi Photojournalist, Ayobami Ayepeku Found

NDLEA Nabs Chinese National For Importing 26.10kg Illicit Drug Into Nigeria

Alleged Killer Of Lokoja Photojournalist, Oluwapelumi Adebayo Found Dead In Hotel Room, Leaves Suicide Note

He added: “In the instant case, there is no evidence to support the pleading of the respondent (Otunla) that he will not be prosecuted; that criminal or civil proceeding should not be instituted or initiated against him. “There is no plea bargain or anything documentary evidence relating to the President Panel for the Recovery of Funds.

“On the whole, the appeal is meritorious and it is allowed. The judgment of the Federal High Court, in suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/2321/2021 delivered on the 16th day of July 2021 delivered by honourable Justice I. E. Ekwo is hereby set aside,” Justice Senchi said.

Other members of the panel – Justices Stephen Adah and Elfreda Williams-Daudu – agreed with the lead judgment.

The judgment was delivered on Monday evening on the appeal, marked: CA/A/657/2021 filed by the EFCC.

According to the EFCC, Otunla was investigated in relation to two cases: The alleged diversion of about N24b meant for disengaged staff of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and the N2b allegedly received from the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja had, in the July 16, 2021 judgment upheld Otunla’s claim of an existing verbal agreement between him and the then acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu that he would not be prosecuted if he make refund to the Federal Government.

Justice Ekwo, in the 2021 judgment on the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2321/2021 filed by Otunla, held among others, that, in view of the assurance given to him by Magu, which informed his refund of the money, he could no longer be prosecuted for his actions while in office between 2011 and 2015.

Otunla had, in an affidavit, claimed that Magu promised him that he would not be prosecuted should he return funds traced to him, companies linked to him and his associates.

He stated that sometime in 2015, he was invited by a team of EFCC’s investigators, probing alleged diversion of funds from the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) pension funds.

Otunla said he later met with Magu, in the course of the investigation, when the then acting EFCC Chair told him in person to “refund the monies linked to your companies and nobody will prosecute you.”

He said based on Magu’s promise he had a reconciliatory meeting with the team of investigators, where he immediately undertook to make available some funds as refunds.

In line with the agreement, Otunla said one of the companies linked to him – Stellar Vera Development Ltd – refunded N750m; another company – Damaris Mode Coolture Ltd – refunded N550m, while the two firms later made additional joint refund of N2,150,000,000.00.

He added that, at a point, he raised several managers cheques for N10m in favour of the EFCC, which he handed to its Economic Governance Section.

Otunla said, in all, he made a refund of N6,392,000,000.00 to the Federation Account through the EFCC. (Punch)

 

Tags: CourtEFCCFraudtrial
Previous Post

Atiku Will Privatise Nigeria Into His Pocket – Tinubu

Next Post

Elections : Religious Leaders Urge Parties To Dismantle Structures Of Violence

Vital News

Vital News

RelatedStories

Report Of Missing 3,907 Firearms Misleading – Police
Crime

Insecurity : Police Arrest Over 20 Bandits In Kwara

July 29, 2025
Kogi Police Launch Manhunt For Killer Of Ayo Ayepeku, Lokoja Photojournalist
Crime

Body Of Slain Kogi Photojournalist, Ayobami Ayepeku Found

July 28, 2025
NDLEA Nabs Chinese National For Importing 26.10kg Illicit Drug Into Nigeria
Crime

NDLEA Nabs Chinese National For Importing 26.10kg Illicit Drug Into Nigeria

July 27, 2025
Alleged Killer Of Lokoja Photojournalist, Oluwapelumi Adebayo Found Dead In Hotel Room, Leaves Suicide Note
Crime

Alleged Killer Of Lokoja Photojournalist, Oluwapelumi Adebayo Found Dead In Hotel Room, Leaves Suicide Note

July 24, 2025
Kogi Police Launch Manhunt For Killer Of Ayo Ayepeku, Lokoja Photojournalist
Crime

Kogi NYCN Expresses Sadness Over Killing of Lokoja Photojournalist, Ayo Ayepeku

July 24, 2025
Next Post
Elections : Religious Leaders Urge Parties To Dismantle Structures Of Violence

Elections : Religious Leaders Urge Parties To Dismantle Structures Of Violence

Boko Haram Left Borno With Bank Branches In Two Out Of 27 Local Governments—Zulum

Borno Grants Scholarships To 19 Orphaned-youths To Study Medicine In Egypt

Dangote, Sinoma Sign Agreement On 6Mta Cement Plant In Itori, Ogun State 

Dangote, Sinoma Sign Agreement On 6Mta Cement Plant In Itori, Ogun State 

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow Us

Recommended

NEMA recovers 9 corpses from scene of Kano explosion

3 years ago
Elections : INEC Takes Full Delivery Of BVAS

Elections : INEC Takes Full Delivery Of BVAS

3 years ago
Abdullahi Preaches Peace, Urges Prayers For Bello, Leads Kogi Muslims In Prayer On Mount Arafah   Kogi State Muslims to this year’s hajj have been urged to make the Almighty Allah the centre of their activities in this World.  The Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Hajj Commission,Shaikh Luqman Imam Abdullahi gave the admonition on Tuesday in a sermon he delivered after leading the pilgrims  in the two complusory  congregational prayers on Mount Arafah.  In his sermon, the Chairman strongly admonished the congregation to always be conscious of the Almighty ALLAH in their daily activities.  He also urged them to always thank Him for enabling them to be part of this all important  spiritual journey.  Imam Abdullahi further urged them to critically remember their parents, family, the  Governor of the State Alhaji Yahaya Bello, leaders at levels, the Ummah and others in their fervent prayers.   He advised them to conduct themselves very well during the remaining part of their stay in the Kingdom and assured them of the Commission’s commitment to their welfare.   He then prayed for the state and all its leaders.  Today Tuesday, the 9th Dhul-Hijjah,1444H/27th June 2023, is the Day of Arafah.  While giving updates on the hajj activities, the state Amirul Hajj, Alhaji Zakariyahu Aliyu Abubakar (Zaak) said Kogi State pilgrims arrived and stayed at Mount Arafah till sunset as a significant pillar of Hajj rites.   ” Part of the day’s activities is the combination of two salat which was led by Shaikh Luqman Imam Abdullahi , Executive Chairman, Kogi State Hajj Commission.  “The Kogi State Pilgrims to this year’s Hajj have started the performance of real Hajj rites by fully assuming the Hajj costume known as Ihram on Monday, 8th Dhul-Hijjah 1444H/26th June, 2023.   “They will remain in the attire for the performance of other Hajj rites such as staying at Arafat, stoning the symbolic position of Shaitan where it was desuading Prophet Ibrahim Alayhi Sallam in disobeying the Almighty ALLAH to offer his only son, Ismail as at then as a sacrifice, slaughtering of an animal and shaving of the hair or trimming the hair by women.   “After completing all these, the pilgrims are expected to come out of ihram and enjoy a temporary freedom from certain restrictions until they complete the Hajj rites at Makkah by performing the Hajj circumumbulation known as Tawaf and the movement b

Come For Collection Of Your 32kg Luggage, 5-litre Zamzam Water, Kogi Hajj Commission Tells Pilgrims

2 years ago
How Saheed Osupa’s Petition Led Police To Arrest Portable, Appears In Court Today

How Saheed Osupa’s Petition Led Police To Arrest Portable, Appears In Court Today

4 months ago

Instagram

    Please install/update and activate JNews Instagram plugin.

Categories

  • Agriculture/ Water/ Mineral
  • Aviation
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Culture
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Football
  • Foreign
  • Gender
  • Health
  • Judiciary
  • Labour
  • National
  • News
  • Oil & Gas
  • Opinion
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Power
  • Religion
  • Security
  • Sports
  • Transport
  • Uncategorized

Topics

Abiodun Abuja APC arrest Atiku Bandits Bello Benue Buhari CBN cement Court Dangote death dies drugs Economy EFCC Election elections FG gunmen Hajj INEC Kano kidnap Kill Kogi Kwara Lagos NDLEA Niger Nigeria Ododo Ogun Oyo PDP Police Power refinery rescue road Security students Tinubu
No Result
View All Result

Highlights

Hafsoh Killer, Abdulrhaman Bello To Die By Hanging, Court Discharges, Acquits 4 Others

FG Seeks Partnership With Dangote Cement To Bridge Housing Gap

Canada Announces Plan To Recognise Palestinian State By September

Governor Alia Dissolves Benue Executive Council, Appoints New Chief of Staff

Dangote Cement Set To Commission 3Mta Grinding Plant In Côte d’Ivoire

Abdulrahim Thanks Governor Ododo Over Appointment as Governing Council Chairman Of Kogi College Of Nursing

Trending

NUC Team Pays Revalidation Visit To FUOYE, Lauds Visible Transformation Of Distance Learning Institute
Education

NUC Team Pays Revalidation Visit To FUOYE, Lauds Visible Transformation Of Distance Learning Institute

by Vital News
August 1, 2025
0

A delegation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) has paid a revalidation visit to the Distance Learning...

Work Ongoing To Re-Erect Three Towers Along Kainji-Birnin Kebbi Transmission Line – TCN

FG Awards Contracts Worth N68.7bln For Power Projects In Universities, Teaching Hospitals

July 31, 2025
Ododo Applauds President  Tinubu, Minister Of Works Over Ongoing Reconstruction, Expansion Of Abuja–Lokoja Highway

Ododo Applauds President Tinubu, Minister Of Works Over Ongoing Reconstruction, Expansion Of Abuja–Lokoja Highway

July 31, 2025
Hafsoh Killer, Abdulrhaman Bello To Die By Hanging, Court Discharges, Acquits 4 Others

Hafsoh Killer, Abdulrhaman Bello To Die By Hanging, Court Discharges, Acquits 4 Others

July 31, 2025
FG Seeks Partnership With Dangote Cement To Bridge Housing Gap

FG Seeks Partnership With Dangote Cement To Bridge Housing Gap

July 31, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
Vital News

Vital News is an online newspaper with a mission to uphold professional journalism by reporting and publishing only facts and figures-based news reports across Nigeria and beyond.

Recent News

  • NUC Team Pays Revalidation Visit To FUOYE, Lauds Visible Transformation Of Distance Learning Institute August 1, 2025
  • FG Awards Contracts Worth N68.7bln For Power Projects In Universities, Teaching Hospitals July 31, 2025
  • Ododo Applauds President Tinubu, Minister Of Works Over Ongoing Reconstruction, Expansion Of Abuja–Lokoja Highway July 31, 2025

Categories

  • Agriculture/ Water/ Mineral
  • Aviation
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Culture
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Football
  • Foreign
  • Gender
  • Health
  • Judiciary
  • Labour
  • National
  • News
  • Oil & Gas
  • Opinion
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Power
  • Religion
  • Security
  • Sports
  • Transport
  • Uncategorized

© 2022 Vital News - . All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Frontpage
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • National
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • More
    • Crime
    • Judiciary
    • Security

© 2022 Vital News - Vital News by Vital News.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In