EFCC declares Rivers Director of Finance, others wanted for fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has declared no less than 59 suspects wanted for various fraudulent activities running into billions of naira.

EFCC, in a wanted list statement and signed by the head of media and publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said the offences range from money laundering to obtaining money by false pretence, fraud, internet-related offences and issuance of dud cheque.

Among those declared wanted include four officials of the Rivers State government including the Director of Finance of the State, Fubara Siminayi, who is also a governorship aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Siminayi, according to the anti-graft agency, is wanted over suspected N117 billion fraud between 2015 and 2018, alleged criminal conspiracy, money laundering, misappropriation of public funds and abuse of office.

In the statement, the Accountant-General and the other three officials identified as Lekia V. Bukpor, Dagogo Rodderick Abere, and Harrisonba Bessi Princewill, are alleged to have, “In their capacity as signatories to the Rivers State Government account, acted as proxies to several government officials, conspired and fraudulently withdrew and diverted the sum between 2015 and 2018.”

Another major suspect identified as Maxwell on the list is wanted for an alleged case of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence and money laundering to the tune of N213bn.

The statement said the suspect ran a trading and capital company, in which many investors’ funds got trapped.

Uwujaren called on anyone with useful information as to the whereabouts of the said persons, whose pictures were displayed on its website to contact any of the commission’s offices or the nearest police station or other security agencies.