77 Nigerians: FBI suspect ‘606’ remanded for alleged N206m fraud

By Robert Egbe

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday remanded in Correctional
Services custody the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
of 606 Authors Ltd Sarumi Babafemi following his arraignment for
alleged N206million fraud.

Justice Chukwujeku Aneke made the order after Babafemi,
alongside his companies – 606 Autos Ltd; 606 Music Ltd; and Splash
Off Entertainment Limited pleaded not guilty to a five-count charge
of money laundering.

According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), Babafemi, popularly known as 606, is an accomplice of some
of the 77 Nigerians indicted for cybercrime in the United States
following a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
investigation.

The EFCC accused the defendant of laundering a total of N207.1m
between 2013 and 2018.

He allegedly transferring N37.6m to one Omojadesola Allison;
N93m to one Olanrewaju Oriyomi; N1.5m to one Abiola Ayorinde, alias
ABK; N25m to one Bartholomew Ezeudoka; and N50m to one Amobi
Uchenna.

The EFCC said 6O6 “ought to have reasonably known that such
funds form part of an unlawful act, to wit: obtaining money by
false pretence.”

EFCC counsel Mr A.B.C. Ozioko, said 606 and his companies acted
contrary to Section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition)
Act 2011 (as amended) and were liable to be punished under Section
15(3) of the same Act.

The defendants pleaded not guilty

Defence counsel, Dr Muiz Banire (SAN), told the judge that he
had filed an application for his client’s bail and had served it on
the prosecution.

Banire, who said the offence was bailable, urged the court to
grant bail to his client in liberal terms.

But Ozioko opposed him. He prayed the court to decline the bail
application based on the defendant’s antecedents.

Ozioko said the charges against 606 were informed by
intelligence from the FBI

He told the judge that there was another charge against 606
pending before another court.

Justice Aneke adjourned till November 4, 2019 to rule on the
bail application.

He remanded 606 till then.

EFCC Recover N60mn Wristwatches from Mompha-
Magu
(Remarks By Acting Chairman, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, At Interactive
Session with Stakeholders)

The EFCC was created due largely to the negative effect of the
activities of fraudsters, especially a advance fee fraudsters, on
the economy and image of our Nigeria. While the Commission was
successful in tackling advance fee fraud, other forms of fraudulent
activities have emerged, promoted by advances in
telecommunications, with even greater impact on the economy and
image of Nigeria.

· Many youths are involved in Internet fraud of different types,
most often targeting foreigners, especially women, whom they
defraud of large sums of money.

· The EFCC has been unrelenting in its effort to check the
activities of these fraudsters, who, I must say, represent a tiny
fraction of the population of our country.

· Following the complaints from some foreign countries, the
Commission has had to undertake special collaboration with other
law enforcement organizations, to check these crimes. Recently, the
Commission and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI
concluded a joint operations code named, Operation Rewired.

· The exercise was meant to dismantle the network of organised
criminal gang that specialize in Business Email Compromise schemes,
designed to intercept and hijack wire transfers from businesses and
individuals.

· The operation resulted in the seizure of nearly $2.4 million,
and the disruption and recovery of approximately $14 million in
fraudulent wire transfers.

· Also worthy of mention is the Operation Triangle, which saw
Italian police and EFCC working closely to dismantle a
trans-national criminal group operating in all the 5
continents.

EFCC in close cooperation with the Italian National Police as
well as Spanish, Polish, English, Belgian, Georgian, Turkish and
Cameroonian police, with the support of Europol and Interpol, and
the coordination of Eurojust, carried out extensive investigations
which resulted in the arrest of 62 individuals, seizure of 40
Thousand Euros, 30 smart phones, 10 tablets and 15 personal
computers.

· Some of the Nigerians mentioned in the infamous FBI list of
cyber fraudsters have been tracked, arrested and are being
prosecuted in courts across the country by the Commission.

· But more fundamental than these international collaborations
is the sustained effort of the Commission to comprehensively tackle
the menace of Internet related frauds in Nigeria. I am happy to
report that we are recording series of breakthroughs with almost
daily arrests of suspected fraudsters across the country

· In October alone, the Commission recorded over 200 arrests of
suspected Internet fraud suspects in carefully coordinated
operations across our offices. However the major talking point for
us, was the recent arrest of celebrated social media personality
and alleged internet fraudster, Ismaila Mustapha, also known as
Mompha and his Lebanese accomplice, Hamza Koudeih.

· They were picked up in Abuja and Lagos respectively, through
credible intelligence which flagged the suspects as kingpins of
Organized Cyber Syndicate Network, OCSN.

· Five wristwatches valued at over N60million were recovered
from Mompha, at the point of arrest. Investigation has also
revealed that he operates 51 bank accounts in Nigeria with which he
acquired properties in Dubai and had laundered about N14billion
through Ismalob Global Investments Limited. His accomplice,
Koudeih, also has two firms namely: THK Services Limited and CHK
properties Limited with which he has allegedly laundered about
N19billion.

Koudeih lives in a $5million per annum suite at the Eko Atlantic
Pearl Tower, Victoria Island Lagos.

· These arrests have further confirmed our commitment to the
fight against corruption and economic crime and send a clear
message to high end fraudsters that they can only run but cannot
hide. Sooner than later, we will get them.

· The effort to flush out all fraudsters continues. At the same
time, we will sustain the tempo of vigorous prosecution of fraud
cases in court. Indeed, fraudsters account for a huge percent of
the 890 convictions that has been recorded by the Commission, this
year. A number of assets have been seized while victims have also
enjoyed restitution by order of court.
· But the battle is far from being won. The Commission requires the
support of all stakeholders, especially the media, to help in
sensitizing the youth who are the ones mostly involved in cyber
crime, about the evil of Internet frauds on our economy and
collective national image.
· The youth must learn the virtues of integrity and hard worth as
the path to sustainable wealth. They must realize that crime does
not pay. Rather it will destroy their prospects and ruin their
chances of decent living.
· For those who are remorseful, and prepared to turn a new leaf,
the Commission is fully disposed to help in channelling their
energies and cyber skills to positive venture. We are considering a
policy that will help in the rehabilitation of convicted but
repentant Internet fraudsters, to ensure that their skills are
positively applied, in helping to build a better Nigerian
society.
· I urge you all to join us in fighting cyber crime and other forms
of corruption. We need to change the negative narratives about
Nigeria being a haven of fraudsters.
· Once again, I thank you for your presence and support.

Ibrahim Magu
Ag. Chair EFCC