Alleged N3.3b fraud: EFCC declares Saraki’s associate wanted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) yesterday declared a former Director of the defunct Societe Generale Bank Nigeria Plc, Kennedy Izuagbe, wanted.

Izuagbe is also the Managing Director of Carlisle Properties and Investment Limited, which is mentioned in the alleged discrepancies in Senate President Bukola’s Saraki’s asset declaration forms.

The development suggest that the EFCC may have been probing the defunct SGBN.

A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said Izuagbe is wanted for alleged laundering about N3.6 billion.

The statement said:”Kennedy Izuagbe, a former Director of Societe Generale Bank Nigeria Plc and Managing Director of Carlisle Properties and Investment Limited, has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

“Izuagbe, 45, who is being investigated in a case of conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of over N3.6 billion, has gone into hiding and all efforts to reach him have proved abortive.

“He is linked to the several shady deals and gross financial misconducts that took place in the bank, in which several millions of naira were granted as loan without due diligence.

“The suspect, who is believed to have fled the country, is a native of Iviukhua village, near Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.

“The EFCC enjoins members of the public with information on the whereabouts of Izuagbe to contact any of its offices in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Gombe and Kano, or the nearest police station.”

The EFCC announced the arrest of Alhaji Umar Audu Bida, chief executive officer, Universal Contractors Limited, for alleged possession of some documents of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for the supply of crude to his American business partner, Donald Laletta, CEO, North Park LLLC.

A separate statement said: “The 62-year-old suspect, who was picked up by EFCC operatives on Tuesday, September 15, at his residence on Gumel Road, Kaduna, was in possession of fake documents pertaining to the lifting of crude by the vessels, MT Antartic, MT Sonagol Namibe and MT Caped Bowen.

“The suspect, however, said that he obtained the documents from the agents to the seller-Lambda, Double Wonder and Days Marines Services- who allegedly claimed to have crude oil for sale.

“The complaint an alleged that the suspect had attempted to defraud him after signing a Sales and Purchase Agreement, SPA, with him.

“The complainant’s claims that he paid the suspect, who acts as his agent in Nigeria, the sums of $8m, $10m and $12m at different times, and that he raised a letter of credit, via a courier company, in favour of Universal Contractors Limited to the tune of $100m (One hundred million dollars) are being investigated by EFCC.”