EFCC ARRESTS MD OF ZENITH BANK!

The Managing Director of Zenith Properties Limited, Maitama Abuja, Ifobiya Oloruntoba Seyi and the Credit Controller of Exclusive Stores, Wuse 2, Abuja, Obinna Ararume, are among five persons arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over noncompliance with Anti Money Laundering Laws.


“Three others arrested during the special operation are Mr. Anita Udoh, one of the managers of Exclusive Stores; Mathew Omale and Babayaro Alhaji Bako, both security men of Exclusive Stores who obstructed the operatives of the Commission from carrying out their duties,” a statement by the spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren said.

Mr Wilson said the arrests were carried out by the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), as part of the on-going effort to enforce compliance with anti-money laundering laws by Designated Non- Financial Institutions (DNFIs).

“Section 5 of the Money Laundering Act 2011 requires existing DNFIs to submit to the ministry of commerce, within three months from the commencement of the Act, a declaration of their activities and all record of transactions in chronological order, indicating each customers surname, forenames and address. Section five sub section two further states that “The Ministry shall forward the information received pursuant to subsection 1 of the section to the Commission within 7 days of its receipt.

“The DFNIs include dealers in jewelleries, cars, supermarkets and luxury goods, chartered accountants, audit firms, tax consultants, clearing and settlement companies, legal practitioners, hotels, casinos, or such other businesses as the Federal Ministry of Commerce or appropriate regulatory authorities may from time to time designate.

“It would be recalled that the Commission had on October 9, 2012, arrested four persons over non-compliance with the money laundering law. They were the Managing Director of NICON Properties Limited, Wuse Abuja, Mr. Yahaya Atai Odoma; the Accountant of the company, Mr. Rufai S. Bidu; Mr. Obee Williams Abu and Mr. Enger Peter of Hotel de Lamitel, Kadu Kuchi district, Abuja.

“Similarly the EFCC had on October 4, 2012, arrested officials of seven companies for non- compliance. The companies includes Pent House Properties; Jorany Hotels, Wuse 2 Abuja; Febsons Hotels Nigeria Limited, Wuse zone 4, Abuja; Nawa Properties, AMAC Plaza, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja; Grand Product Company Limited, (Grand Square); Abmed hotels Limited and Lamonde Hotels.

“The Head SCUML, Angela Nworgu says more arrests will be made as the enforcement exercise continues,” the statement said.