The trial of Fred Ajudua before Justice M.A. Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, could not proceed on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, due to the defendant’s absence. Justice Dada informed the parties that the court had received a letter from the Ikoyi Correctional Centre confirming that Ajudua had been admitted to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, for medical treatment. Following this development, Ajudua’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, presented a fresh bail application on behalf of the defendant. However, the prosecuting counsel, Seidu Atteh, noted that he had not been served a copy of…
Author: Kunle Edun
Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, July 24, 2025 fixed November 25, 2025 for the trial of former Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano.The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Obiano on a nine- count charge bordering on money laundering, diversion of funds, stealing and corruption to the tune of N4billion. Obiano’s trial is starting afresh under Justice Umar, who was assigned the case on May 8, 2025 by the Chief Judge of Federal High Court, FHC, Justice John Tsoho. The former trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, had fixed May 26, 2025 for continuation…
Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, July 24, sensitized officers of Central Bank of Nigeria, Benin Branch on virtual assets, anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism. The sensitization lecture which was at the behest of the Apex Bank was held in the Benin office of the bank. Head, Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, Benin Zonal Directorate, Superintendent of the EFCC, Ibrahim Boyi in his presentation captured money laundering as the process of transforming ill-gotten wealth so that it may appear legitimate. He said terrorism financing could be through provision of cash, logistics support or services, facilitation…
Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, July, 24, 2025, convicted the duo of Dr. Olufemi Martins Thomas, a former Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, and one Kabiru Sidi, a Bureau De Change Operator, for $2,198,900.00 ( Two million, One Hundred and Ninety Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred United States Dollars) fraud. Thomas was arraigned alongside Sidi on an amended seven-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of $2,198,900.00 brought against them by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Six of the counts…
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State has convicted and sentenced five internet fraudsters to six months jail terms each. They were jailed on Tuesday July 22, 2025, after pleading guilty to separate charges bordering on criminal impersonation on the internet, preferred against them by the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The convicts are: Okon Dennis Akpan, Franklin Agara Mbeh, Peter Chinedu Okpaga, Nwofoke Celestine and Paul Egede Chinedu. One of the charges reads: ‘that you, Nwofoke Celestine “M” sometime in 2025 within the jurisdiction of this…
Justice R.M Aikawa of the Federal High Court, sitting in Kaduna has convicted and sentenced one Musa Yakubu to jail for fraud. He was prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a one-count charge, bordering on impersonation and cybercrime. The charge reads: “That you, Musa Yakubu (a.k.a T.S Malofinha), Male, sometime in February, 2025 in Shiroro Minna, Niger State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one T.S Malofinha (a citizen of Carlifornia, United States of America) on Facebook (an online social media application), with intent to gain advantage to yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i)…
Operatives of the Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested twenty-four (24) suspected internet fraudsters in a sting operation on Monday, July 21, 2025. They were arrested opposite Bayero University Kano (BUK) New Site, following actionable intelligence on their suspected involvement in cybercrime activities. All suspects apprehended are confirmed to be undergraduate students of Bayero University Kano (BUK). Items recovered during the operation include, mobile phones, laptops, internet routers and one Honda Accord car. The suspects, Ismaíl Nura, Suuleyman Ayeh, Usman Abdulrazaq, Emmanuel Chigozie, Akabe Seth, Daniel Imoter, Abdulganiyu Jimoh, Jafar Abubakar, Usman Nuraddeen, Mohammad…
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentence of 11 fraudsters before Justices Mahmud Abdulgafar and Abimbola Awogboro of the Kwara State and the Federal High Courts, respectively, sitting in Ilorin. The convicts are, Mathew Stephen Yaba, Samuel Stephen Ayomide, Bamidele Favour Olajide, Isah Kadir, Abdulrasaq Jubril, Samuel Peter Juwon, Omolaiye Stephen Benefit, Kayode Emmanuel Opeyemi, Abdulrahim Lasisi, Ugwuadu Ikechukwu Michael and Moshood Abduljawad. All the defendants were tried before Justice Awogboro, barring Jubril who was prosecuted before Justice Abdulgafar. Their offences bordered on impersonation, obtaining under false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and internet fraud. Count two of Yaba’s charge reads: “That you, Matthew Stephen Yaba, sometime between the…
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 dismissed a No -case Submission made by former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, ordering him to commence his defence. Suswam, alongside his then Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi Okolobia is facing an 11-count amended charge for allegedly diverting N3.1 billion, being part of proceeds from the State government’s shares held on behalf of the state by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited. The prosecution, at the last adjourned date, closed its case after presenting nine witnesses, which led…
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, secured the conviction and sentence of two internet fraudsters, Emmanuel Nwanze and Omogbe Aroghene Justice, before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. They were arraigned on one-count separate charge of fraudulently impersonating foreign nationals. The charge against Emmanuel reads: “That you EMMANUEL NWANZE (Male), adult sometime in July, 2025 in Ayobola Daodu Street, Sango-tedo, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently impersonated one Julienne Grundy by holding yourself out as such on your…
Justice Emmanuel Gakko of the Federal High Court sitting in Kebbi, Kebbi State, on Tuesday July 22, 2025 convicted and sentenced two motor dealers : Mamuda Aliyu and Hamza Muhammad Mahuta to various jail terms for money laundering. They were jailed upon their arraignment and trial on ten- count charges preferred against them by the Sokoto Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Count one reads: ” That you Mamuda Aliyu and Hamza Muhammad Mahuta (trading under the name and style of Dogaro Ga Allah Motors) being a Designated Non-Financial Institution and carrying on the business of sales of…
The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has secured the conviction and sentence of Sadi Zangina, Ahmed Buhari, Khalifa Muazu Aliyu and Olasode Abdulganiu before Justice R.M.Aikawa of the Federal High Court, sitting in Kaduna for fraud. They were prosecuted on a separate one-count charge, bordering on money laundering, impersonation and cybercrime crime. The charge against Zangina reads: ” That you, Sani Zangina, sometime in the year 2024, at Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did aid one Ahmad Kabir to commit an offence, to wit: retention of proceeds of criminal conduct and thereby committed an offence…
The First Prosecution Witness, PW1, Sulaiman Kwalla, in the trial of Bishop Katung Jonas and Okewole Dayo, chairman and secretary of Covenant Fadama Multi-purpose Cooperative Society, Jos, Plateau State, respectively, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, told Justice Sharon T. Ishaya of the Federal High Court, sitting in Jos, Plateau State that many of the victims of the alleged fraudulent cooperative society, including him and his wife were lured into investing their resources in the venture by the church sermons and religious influence of Bishop Jonas. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting Bishop Jonas and Dayo, first and second defendants, respectively on 23-count charge, bordering on obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of ₦178,885,000 (One Hundred and Seventy-eight Million,…
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 presented more witnesses to prove a case of alleged N5,78billion involving the immediate past Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his former Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu. At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, the sixth prosecution told Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin that the vouchers to borrow N1billion (One Billion Naira Only) were raised by SUBEB officials. The witness, Suleiman Oluwadare Ishola, who served as the Accountant-General of Kwara State between 2013 -…
Operatives of the Abuja Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday, July 17, 2025 arrested 17 suspected internet fraudsters in Abuja. They were apprehended at Mararaba area of Nasarawa state following credible intelligence about their suspected involvement in internet-related crime. Items recovered from them include five cars, 20 phones and four laptops. They suspects will soon be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded. Media & Publicity July 22, 2025 Credit: EFCC Nigeria
The Abuja Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, July 21, 2025 arraigned one Philip Ifejimalu Eze and his company Orimiri Oil and Gas before Justice A.H. Musa of the Fedr FCT High Court Apo-Abuja on a one count charge. The charge reads “That you, Philip Ifejimalu Eze while being the Managing Director of Orimiri Oil and Gas sometime in 2024 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud induced one Chief Amech Nduka of Amatex Oil and Gas to deliver 45,000 liters of Automatic Gas Oil valued at N63,000,000 (Sixty Three…
Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, July 21, 2025, ordered the final forfeiture of digital assets to the tune of $222,729. 86 USDT( Two Hundred and Twenty Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Twenty Nine Dollars, Eighty Six cents) recovered from Chinese involved in cyber-terrorism and internet fraud. The assets form parts of the recoveries made from members of a syndicate of 792 alleged crypto currency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested on December 10, 2024 in Lagos during an operation tagged “Eagle Flush Operation” by operatives of the EFCC. The judge gave…
Justice Alexanda Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, July 21, 2025, convicted and sentenced the duo of Damelda Damilola Sodiq and Samuel Paul Osayande to one year imprisonment each for cybercrime. They were arrested recently in the Ipaja Command area of Lagos by operatives of the EFCC, following credible intelligence on the activities of some internet fraudsters. Investigations revealed that each of the defendants had three bank accounts domiciled in United Bank of Africa (UBA), Opay and Moniepoint, in addition to several email accounts , which they used to defraud their unsuspecting victims. They were…
Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State has convicted and sentenced 10 internet fraudsters to various jail terms. The convicts are; Onyekwulu Lawrence Obiajulu, Onyedikachi Favour Eze, Olisa Philemon Olijo, Okafor Shedrack Chidindu, Ogbodo Chisom Ugochukwu, Nweke Godswill Chinemerem, Oseloka Ogo Patrick, Nnaji Pascal Chijioke, Chibueze Obumneme Frank-Gabriel and Ibekwe Jonathan. They were prosecuted by the Enugu zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on separate charges, bordering on impersonation, possession of fraudulent documents and money laundering. One of the charges against Olijo reads: “That you, Olisa Philemon Olijo sometime in…
Justice Maurin Oyetenu of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has convicted and sentenced three internet fraudsters to various jail terms. They were jailed on Monday, July 21, 2025 after pleading guilty to separate count charges bordering on internet fraud upon their arraignment by the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The convicts are Emmanuel Okwa, Felix Akaninyene Tom and Ubok Ubong Edet. One of the charge reads: “that you, Emmanuel Okwa (aka Jennifer Aniston) “M” sometime in 2024, in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently presented yourself…