SCUML Tasks Non- Financial Businesses, Professions on Compliance with Money Laundering Law
The Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, SCUML, in the Sokoto Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has called on all operators of Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions, DNFBPs, to immediately comply with provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act 2022 to avoid penalties as stated in the Act.
Sokoto Zonal Coordinator of SCUML, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE Ahmadu Bello, stated this at a sensitisation meeting between SCUML and the Zamfara State Coalition of Non- Governmental Organisations, NGOs, held on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 in Gusau.Zamfara State. According to him, all DNFBPs must be registered and must render reports as at when due.
Bello further informed the Coalition which has over 150 members, that such registration is free and online. He pointed out that they are expected to render reports on transactions that are above stipulated threshold as contained in the Act.
The reporting of transactions, Bello stressed, are imperative because DNFBPs are vulnerable to money laundering and terrorism financing, which may make them liable for prosecution.
Chairman of the Coalition, Ibrahim Tudu, appreciated the EFCC for its efforts in sanitizing the country and assured that member NGOs will definitely get registered and comply with all requirements. He urged the EFCC to further enhance sensitization as majority of operators are not aware of SCUML regulations.
The meeting was attended by representatives of traditional institutions, National Orientation Agency, NOA, Department of State Security, DSS, Zamfara Anti-corruption Commission and Ministry of Budget, amongst others.
Four Internet Fraudsters Convicted in Port Harcourt
The Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, secured the conviction and sentencing of four internet fraudsters to various terms before Justices P. I. Ayua, A. T. Mohammed, P. I. Ajoku and S. I. Mark of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State
The convicts are: Brima Edegba, Nicholas Chris Chibuike, Omagbemi Jeffrey and Andrew Idigo.
They were convicted on a separate one count charge of impersonation contrary to section 22 (2) b (i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (iv) of the same Act.
The charge against Edegba reads:”That you, Brima Edegba on or about the 13th of March, 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently present yourself as Alexamaka, a Bitcoin investor via your Telegram account with phone number+2349131240923 with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition Prevention etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act”.
Chibuike’s charge reads:” That you, Nicholas Chris Chibuike (aka Philip) on or about 28th November, 2021 at Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) USD only from your victims under the false pretence that you are investing in Bitcoin business for them, a pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) and punishable under section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act”.
They pleaded “guilty” to their charges.
Based on their pleas, prosecution counsel, C. Okorie, E. K Ebipade, F. O. Amama and K. W. Chukwuma-Eneh urged the court to convict and sentence them as charged.
Counsel to the defendants: Paula Abudu, P. U. Ogbuehi, L. Davies, and Eliko Golden pleaded with the Court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they were first time offenders.
Justice Ayua convicted and sentenced Edegba to two years imprisonment with Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) as fine.
Chibuike and Idigo were convicted and sentenced to one year in the Correctional Service with an option of fine of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000.00) for Chibuike and Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200.000.00) for Idigo.
Justice Mark also convicted and sentenced Omagbemi to three years in the Correctional Service with Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) as fine payable into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Judges also ordered that the two Samsung phones, one HP laptop, one decoder, two home theaters, one Samsung A20 mobile device, one Samsung Galaxy A22 and one iphone12 Pro Max used in committing the crime be forfeited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The convicts are also to depose an affidavit to be of good behavior before the court.
Source: efcc.gov.ng
