The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed that its investigations into former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, and popular cross-dresser Okuneye Idris, known as Bobrisky, are ongoing. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, represented by the agency’s Director of Public Affairs, Wilson … Read more
Tigran Gambaryan, a senior executive at Binance Holdings Limited, was airlifted out of Nigeria on a US medical aircraft shortly after the Nigerian government dropped money laundering charges against him, The New York Times reports. Gambaryan had been held in detention since February amid accusations that the cryptocurrency firm was involved in manipulating the naira. … Read more
The Federal Government has decided to proceed with the money laundering case against Binance Holdings Limited, despite dropping the charges against the company’s executive, Tigran Gambaryan. EKO HOT BLOG reports that on Wednesday, authorities withdrew the $35 million money laundering charges against Gambaryan, citing his poor health and diplomatic pressure as key reasons. Gambaryan, an … Read more
The government of President Bola Tinubu has withdrawn money laundering charges against Tigran Gambaryan, an executive of Binance Holdings Limited. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had initially charged Binance, a major cryptocurrency firm, and Gambaryan in April with allegations of money laundering. EDITOR’S PICKS BREAKING: Tinubu Arrives Abuja After Two-Week Working Vacation In … Read more
The federal government is planning to raise the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 7.5 percent to 10 percent. EKO HOT BLOG reports that an executive bill to formalize the increase has already been submitted to the National Assembly. According to a Sunday report by The Cable, the proposed legislation seeks to gradually raise the VAT … Read more
Air Peace Limited has denied allegations against its Chairman and CEO, Allen Onyema, and Chief of Finance and Administration, Ejiro Eghagha, following charges of obstruction of justice filed by the United States. Reports indicate that Onyema and Eghagha have been under investigation since 2019 over alleged money laundering. EKO HOT BLOG reports that Onyema was … Read more
The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the bail application of detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan. Justice Emeka Nwite, who presided over the case, ruled on Friday that the fresh bail application amounted to an abuse of court process, as Gambaryan’s first bail application—based on health concerns—was already under appeal. EDITOR’S PICKS Health, Planning … Read more
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied allegations of accepting a bribe to drop money laundering charges against Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky. On Monday, the EFCC clarified that the money laundering charges were dropped following Bobrisky’s court confession about naira abuse and disclosure from the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering … Read more
The lawyer representing Nigerian crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, has provided an explanation for his client’s absence before the House of Representatives. Bobrisky was scheduled to appear on Monday to address allegations of bribing officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to drop money laundering charges, and the Nigerian Correctional Services … Read more
In court on Thursday, new details emerged regarding the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, and his consistent payment of school fees for his three daughters in U.S. dollars through Jamilu Abdullahi, a Bureau de Change operator, and his affiliated companies. Abdullahi, who testified as the third witness in the case against the … Read more
Nigerian crossdresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, has denied allegations that he bribed officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with ₦15 million to dismiss money laundering charges against him. EKO HOT BLOG reports that the accusation came to light on Tuesday after influencer Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, shared … Read more
Knarik Gambaryan, the mother of Tigran Gambaryan, a detained Binance executive in Nigeria, has fervently declared her son’s innocence regarding the charges of money laundering and terrorism financing brought against him by the Nigerian government. In a statement sent on Friday, Knarik emphasized that her son is unaware of the allegations against him. EDITOR’S PICKS … Read more
Nigeria and China have reached an agreement to enhance their collaboration on financial intelligence to combat money laundering and other economic crimes within Nigeria. This strategic partnership, announced in a joint statement following a meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President Xi Jinping of China, is intended to bolster Nigeria’s efforts to maintain the … Read more
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, arrested one Hyginus Nkwocha for alleged internet fraud and money laundering. EKO HOT BLOG reports that Nkwocha, 35, was apprehended at Ever Green Estate, behind Millennium Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, following intelligence reports about his suspected involvement in internet fraud and money … Read more
A report has revealed that the Nigerian government has frozen over $37 million worth of cryptocurrency held in wallets believed to be owned by organizers of the #EndBadGovernance protests. The freezing order was issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja. According to a copy of the ruling obtained by Premium Times, the order was … Read more
Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello remains on the run 107 days after being declared wanted by the EFCC for alleged money laundering involving over ₦80 billion. EKO HOT BLOG reports that the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, remains on the run 107 days after being declared wanted by the Economic and Financial … Read more
A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an arrest warrant for Dr. Abraham Ehizojie for failing to submit the medical report of Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive facing money laundering charges. Eko Hot Blog reports that Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest … Read more
Emefiele Loses $4.7m, N830.8m, Properties To FG The order was issued by Justice Yellim Bogoro after an ex-parte application by the EFCC. The forfeited properties include various buildings, warehouses, and plots of land in Lagos. EKO HOT BLOG reports that Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered a temporary forfeiture … Read more
FG Denies Binance’s Bribery Allegation Accuses Crypto Firm of Attempting Blackmail Charges Binance with Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing Eko Hot Blog reports that in a fierce rebuttal, the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government has accused cryptocurrency trading platform Binance of attempting to blackmail Nigeria. This accusation comes in the wake of Binance’s allegation that top … Read more
Aviation Ministry Sacked Heads Summoned By EFCC Over Alleged Money Launderin Letters of invitation are prepared for officials to explain their roles in fraudulent activities. Tinubu sacked heads of aviation agencies in December 2023, including FAAN, NAMA, NSIB, NiMET, and NCAT. EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is planning … Read more