Find the EFCC Press statement below
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned Alhaji
Yerima Suleiman and Mr. Uwem Essien Antia before Justice Lawal Akapo of
a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on a four-count charge
bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence and forgery.
Yerima and Antia ran into troubles, when they were arrested in March,
2015 by operatives of the EFCC for allegedly stealing the sum of
$2,250,000 (Two Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States
Dollars) from two bankers: Aginwa Gladys and Ale Dennis.
The suspects allegedly approached Aginwa and Dennis in February, 2015,
offering to sell foreign exchange to the tune of $10,000,000 USD to
them. After agreeing on the exchange rate, a sum of N672, 750, 000 (Six
Hundred and Seventy Two Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira
only) was transferred from BlueBeam Capital Investment Limited and
Capital Field Investment and Trust Limited into the account of one of
the bankers: Smiles and Light Limited.
It was from the banker's account that the entire sum was moved into
Antia’s account: Kafisto Oil and Gas Limited.
Findings showed that the entire sum of N672, 750,000 actually hit
Antia's account. A Bureau de Change operator who changed the money into
its dollar equivalent, told EFCC's investigators that he went with Antia
to his bank, along Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, where the transaction
was confirmed.
The Bureau de Change operator further revealed that, Antia subsequently
transferred the sum of N666, 250,000(Six Hundred and Sixty- Six Million,
Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only) into his own account.
He said he worked out the dollar equivalent of the money, which was
$3,127,000 (Three Million, One Hundred and Twenty- Seven Thousand United
States Dollar). He said he could only give $3,124,000(Three Million,
One Hundred and Twenty-Four Thousand Dollar) to Antia, leaving a balance
of $3,000(Three Thousand Dollar), which he promised to give him the
next day.
Immediately Antia collected the foreign exchange, he reportedly headed
for Number 17A, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, where the two bankers and
his accomplice, Suleiman were waiting for him. However, rather than
handing over the entire foreign exchange to the bankers, he only gave
them $1,000,000(One Million Dollars), claiming that he could not source
the entire amount.
He allegedly promised to give them a balance of $2,250,000 (Two Million,
Two Hundred and Twenty- Five Thousand Dollar) the next day.
This balance would be the dollar equivalent of the entire sum of the
transaction (N672, 750,000). The bankers said that, since the day Antia
and Suleman gave them the initial $1,000,000, all efforts to reach them
had proved abortive. "Their cell phones were turned off", they said.
However, they lodged a complaint with the EFCC and operatives of the
Commission eventually arrested the two fraudsters.
The fraudsters, upon their arrest, claimed that they had given one of
the bankers, Dennis the balance of the money at the Murtala Mohammed
International Airport, Lagos, but investigations by the Commission,
showed that no such transaction took place.
Count one of the charge read:
"Alhaji Yerima Suleiman and Mr. Uwen Essien Antia on or about the 5th
day of February, 2015 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this
Honourable Court with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain money by
false pretence from Dennis Ale and Aginwa Gladys.
Another count read:"Alhaji Yerima Suleiman and Mr. Uwen Essien Anita on
or about the 6th day of February, 2015 at Lagos within the jurisdiction
of this Honourable court, with intent to defraud and in order to
facilitate your obtaining money by false pretence from Dennis Ale and
Aginwa Gladys, forged acknowledgement of receipt dated 6th February,
2015 purported to have been made by Dennis Ale."
When the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, Gbolahan Latona prayed for a
trial date and the remand of the accused person in prison custody. He
told the court that the 1st accused person was also a defendant in
another fraud charge before another court.
However, 1st and 2nd defence counsel, Ali Adams and Kabril Akingbolu
said they have filed applications for bail and prayed the court for a
short adjournment for argument on their bail applications.
Justice Lawal Akapo adjourned the matter to November 9, 10, 11, 16, 17
and 18, 2015 and ordered that the accused persons be remanded in
Kirikiri maximum prison.
Media & Publicity
24th June, 2015
