EFCC is prosecuting the FIRS official and Surestart School Limited on 25 counts of criminal misappropriation, diversion, criminal breach of trust and money laundering to the tune of N2billion.

A prosecution witness, on Monday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja how the Head of Stakeholders Unit of the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) Emmanuella Ita, allegedly diverted large sums of money belonging to the FIRS unit to her private school, Surestart School Ltd.

Ms Ita ran Surestart School Ltd while serving as the Head of Stakeholders Unit of the FIRS, according to a press statement by by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday.

Testifying as the sixth prosecution witness (PW6) on Monday, Ijeoma Maltida, an EFCC investigator, told the court that the funds allegedly diverted by Ms Ita were meant for certain projects to be executed by her unit at the FIRS.

The witness, who was being cross-examined by defence lawyer, Paul Erokoro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said the funds meant for the projects were traced into her account with the payment narration.

She told the trial judge, Folashade Ogunbanjo-Giwa, that investigations showed that the same funds were sent directly into the account of the second defendant, Surestart School Ltd.

“When she came to our office, we took her statement, we were cordial with her, and she was treated very well with utmost respect.

“While she was with us for reconciliation, she started bringing documents, and she also opted to pay back for some reconciliation she could not account for. She said in her statement that she will pay back the money. I don’t know where she got the money from, and so far, she has refunded about N17million, though she told us that she benefited about N5million from the program,” the statement by the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, quoted the witness as saying.

The witness added: “I don’t know the standard practice of sourcing for funds before asking for reimbursement, and it is not within the scope of our investigation. All I know is that she undertook some of the stakeholders’ events, and we saw that those monies that came from FIRS went directly into the account of the second defendant, and the description was that the assignment was not done.”

Ms Maltida said the defendant told her team that the vendors that were supposed to do the events had given their evidence in court and testified that the receipts did not presented by the defendant come from them.

“She further claimed that those receipts were given to her by one Daniel, who was a staff of FIRS,” the witness said.

Testifying further, she said, “we were told he was late and we demanded for the death certificate which was given to us. We requested for his account details and we discovered he was also a beneficiary. We wrote to FIRS, UBA, System Spec, and invited everyone involved in this matter and everything we have here are as a result of our investigations.”

After the cross-examination, Ms Ogunbanjo-Giwa, adjourned the matter till 20 and 21 March for continuation trial.

The EFCC is prosecuting Ms Ita and Surestart School Limited on 25 counts of criminal misappropriation, diversion, criminal breach of trust and money laundering to the tune of N2 billion.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/678726-how-firs-official-diverted-public-funds-to-her-private-school-witness.html

Most Nigerians are corrupt, from top to bottom. that's why the country is growing at a slow pace.

My problem here is that we have weak financial crime institution in this country.

This is exactly what is obtainable in today's public service offices. Spending public money in a manner as if it's your private money.
I'm tired of reading this type of news on nairaland forum.

I left..!

Ok na

Imagine

FIRS staffs and Footballer.. who get money pass?

we just they elect criminals for office,from presi to fir country of mudafuckers ruled by crooks

it is well

Niaja we hail thee.

As usual it will be swept under the carpet soon. How about the senators sharing millions of naira ? Who's going to investigate, budget padding nko?

Is there Hope for this Nation

Unprofessional and Irresponsible police force

Unprofessional and irresponsible Military

Criminal and irresponsible politicians

Unprofessional and irresponsible Anti-graft agencies (EFCC, ICP, etc)

Corrupt and and irresponsible judiciary

Criminal Electoral Body (INEC)

Selective application of law & constitution

Terrorism & Genocide, sponsored/encouraged by the state.

Idiots that support criminals culturally, politically & religiously, to govern them

#2 billion naira....at what point of your embezzlements, you raise your hands up and say to yourself..."this is enough fraud" ?? 2 billion for a woman that's not even married?? WTF??

Some People that works in government parastatals no fear God at all. Yet she must be the kind of people that boast that I am serving a big god

No country survives Many financial leakages like ours.

She will be among those compIaîñîñg about córrûption in Nigerîà.

Nigerians and their hypocrisy everyone will claim saint until given a position and U will see their true colours

fidelmarshal199:
Most Nigerians are corrupt, from top to bottom. that's why the country is growing at a slow pace.

If i have to say it, I'll say from bottom to top. An average Nigerian is already terrible before having access to power or affluence.

Weaker system 🤦🏿‍♂️ under Tinubu's watch

Surestart school Abuja, lots of such investments from corrupt acts cover Abuja.

COMRADES, did EFCC investigate the over 70 billion Naira that Buhari and Osinbanjo siphoned from FIRS for 2019 elections? APC is just too corrupt

Nigerians!! What a country

Large percentage of Nigeria civil servants are criminally corrupt and the the nation cannot move forward until the government workers stopped being thieves.

What we don’t want to admit is that we are suffering froom kleptomania. Most people holding government offices where money is disbursed are stealing money meant for providing assistance to the people.

ijustdey:
EFCC is prosecuting the FIRS official and Surestart School Limited on 25 counts of criminal misappropriation, diversion, criminal breach of trust and money laundering to the tune of N2billion.



https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/678726-how-firs-official-diverted-public-funds-to-her-private-school-witness.html

Demonic criminals everywhere🤾
She probably would have been braging about how she work hard to earn her income, and one will always ask, work hard, like do you break rocks
The greatest thieves in this Country are the civil servants.
That's why I love North Korea way of treating this common criminals in government offices.
No shame at all. She even use the proceeds of her loots to hirer an SAN to defend her🤾🤾

Such brazen act of thievery!

Just convert the school to a PLC with government owning 51/% of the shares.

fidelmarshal199:
Most Nigerians are corrupt, from top to bottom. that's why the country is growing at a slow pace.

They chop money meant for infrastructure. Civil servants are thieves including EFCC.

Na for Government original Yahoo men dey.

Boys for Street still dey learn work.

The level of corruption in this country is unheard of anywhere in world.

heniford2:
Weaker system 🤦🏿‍♂️ under Tinubu's watch

So she started the school when Tinubu became president? Una de hear unaself? It is under Tinubu's watch that she has been caught, so what's your problem? Oh , Hoebee lost the election, abi?