86 People Wanted By EFCC, Tompolo, Turaki Still On List

The list of suspects wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has grown in number by 57 percent in the last a year.

In January 2016, there were 37 people on the list, but the number has increased to 86 by March 2017, according to the records published on the EFCC website.

The suspects include the likes of ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo​, more commonly known as Tompolo, and the former governor of Jigawa State, Ibrahim Saminu Turaki.

Tompolo is wanted in a case of conspiracy, illegal diversion of the sum of N45 billion belonging to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), while Mr. Turaki is wanted in connection with a case of misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N36 Billion.

Six of the suspects that have escaped arrest for more than one year are bankers.

Bawa Thomas Momodu, ex-Sterling Bank Plc staff, is wanted in connection with a case of criminal conspiracy, stealing, forgery and money laundering.

Mr. Momodu is alleged to have fraudulently stolen a total of N27 million from a customer’s account.

Also, a former staff of Fidelity Bank Plc, Sapele branch, Delta State, Emeka Charles Ekekwe, is wanted for stealing N146 million.

Others are Geraldine Karina Faikabuna of Diobu Microfinance, who was accused of stealing N52 million, and Godswill Oyegwa Uyoyou.

Mr. Uyoyou, an IT staff of a bank, is alleged to have fraudulently connived with some scammers and hacked into his bank’s database in order to steal the sum of N6.28 billion.

Meanwhile, Justice Simon Aboki of the State High Court sitting in Mararaba, Nasarawa State on Monday convicted and sentenced one Hanna Abraham to 14 years imprisonment on a 3-count charge of obtaining by false pretense and issuance of dud checks to the tune of N7 million.