Connect with us

Crime

NCAA seeks EFCC partnership to tackle aviation fraud

Published

on

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to strengthen its efforts in combating economic and financial crimes within the aviation industry.

The appeal was made during a courtesy visit by NCAA Director General, Captain Chris Najomo, and his management team to EFCC Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, at the Commission’s corporate headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

EFCC disclosed the agenda of the visit in a statement posted on its X handle on Tuesday.

Najomo noted the growing threat of fraudulent activities in the aviation sector, which he said pose serious risks to safety oversight and operational transparency.

He identified areas of high-value transactions vulnerable to fraud and money laundering, including aircraft purchases, leasing arrangements, foreign maintenance contracts, and procurement of safety infrastructure.

“Non-remittance weakens the NCAA’s ability to fund safety oversight and operational efficiency and may require EFCC’s intervention to investigate cases where deliberate withholding, diversion or misappropriation of these funds is suspected.

“Some operators deliberately under-report revenues, manipulate ticketing systems or divert funds, thereby sabotaging the NCAA’s ability to regulate effectively. In such cases, EFCC’s intervention is necessary,” Captain Najomo said.

Najomo also flagged illegal charter operations, often disguised as private flights, which involve unregulated financial flows.

He emphasised the need for EFCC’s financial intelligence capabilities to uncover such activities.

On possible solutions, Najomo proposed joint initiatives, including training NCAA staff to detect financial red flags, organising sensitisation workshops, and sharing intelligence to enhance oversight.

The statement said the EFCC boss expressed the Commission’s willingness to delve more into the aviation sector.

See also  40-year-old Anambra business man arraigned for online defamation

He disclosed that the EFCC will designate senior officers to work with the NCAA in finalising an MoU on joint investigations, intelligence exchange, and compliance monitoring.

“With the kind of work you do, when people see us beside you, they will take you seriously. Aviation is an area where we have seen money laundering, particularly through chartered services.

“That is why we have been reaching out to you, and we will continue to do so until we achieve the desired results,” Olukoyede said.

There have been cases of fraud in the aviation sector.

Last month, the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, narrated how his company suffered a $2m loss to a Tunisia-based leasing company.

In July, EFCC alerted Nigerians to a new scam involving fake airline ticket promos used by fraudsters to steal personal information and siphon money from victims’ bank accounts.

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Crime

Troops arrest soldier declared wanted for supplying military uniforms to terrorists

Published

on

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a soldier declared wanted by the Nigerian Army over his alleged involvement in supplying military uniforms to terrorist groups operating in the North-East.

Security expert, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this in a statement posted on X.

Makama said that the suspect, identified as 23NA/84/1939 Private Mohammed Yusuf of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Training Facility, NAOTF, Lagos, was apprehended at about 6:30 pm on July 25, 2026 by troops of 7 Provost Group led by the Acting Commander.

He added that preliminary investigations revealed that before he was declared wanted, the soldier absconded from his unit and travelled to Maiduguri on July 7, 2026, where he allegedly went into hiding.

Investigators further established that the soldier was sheltered at Gomari Costain in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State by 25NA/89/12687 Private Baba Kamal Sale of the Corps of Intelligence, Dikwa.

The security expert further noted that acting on credible intelligence, troops of the 7 Provost Group placed the suspect under 24-hour surveillance before intercepting and arresting him at Jidari Bus Stop while he was allegedly attempting to flee to Cameroon.

“The suspect is currently in the custody of the 7 Provost Group, where he is undergoing further investigation into the alleged supply of military accoutrements to terrorist elements and the possible involvement of other collaborators.

“The arrest as a significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to dismantle insider networks aiding terrorist groups, adding that investigations are continuing to establish the full extent of the suspect’s activities and identify any accomplices,” Makama added.

See also  Gunmen abduct UTME candidates, others in Benue

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Continue Reading

Crime

PHOTOS: N10 billion Cocaine, Loud, opioids intercepted at Lagos ports as NDLEA arrests kingpins

Published

on

A 55-year-old businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, who deals in clothing at the popular Balogun market, Lagos Island, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over an attempt to export 3.30 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the walls of cartons used to package foodstuffs going to the United Kingdom.

According to Femi Babafemi, spokesperson of the agency, Onuigbo was arrested on Thursday, 23rd July 2026, following the interception of his cocaine consignment at the export shed of the Lagos airport the previous day, Wednesday 22nd July by NDLEA operatives.

NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap

Babafemi said in the course of investigation, three cargo agents identified as Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina; Adeleke Abiola Taoheed; and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim, who handled the shipment, were initially arrested, leading to the arrest of Kenneth Okakpu who delivered the consignment to the cargo agents for shipment to the UK.

The NDLEA spokesperson said Okakpu’s arrest provided the lead to identifying Onuigbo as the kingpin behind the syndicate and his eventual arrest while attempting to send another consignment of cocaine to the UK.

NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap

He mentioned that a 31-year-old entrepreneur, Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo, also involved in illicit drug trafficking, was on Tuesday, 21st July, arrested at her Surulere, Lagos residence by NDLEA operatives following the seizure of her consignment of 2.80kg Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, which arrived from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight on Monday, 20th July.”

See also  Gunmen kill 13 in Plateau, troops uncover arms factory

NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap

In a related development, NDLEA officials seized a consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap heading to the UK. The shipment was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at a courier firm in Lagos on Wednesday, 22nd July.

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Continue Reading

Crime

PHOTOS: Suspected cable thief nabbed in Bayelsa community

Published

on

A man accused of stealing cables was paraded in the Amarata area of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The suspect was apprehended in the early hours of Sunday, 26th July, 2026 by a vigilante group at Ompadec, Amarata, while allegedly stealing electrical cables from a home.

​According to residents, cable theft has become a recurring problem in the area, leaving them feeling vulnerable.

They expressed relief following his apprehension.

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

See also  Coup trial: Villa worker claims he was misled
Continue Reading

Trending