The First Prosecution Witness, PW1 in the ongoing trial of Kore Holdings Limited, , Temitope Erinomo, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, told Justice J. O. Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court Abuja, that the company didn’t report its activities to the appropriate authority in accordance with the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Kore Holdings Limited on a four -count amended charge alongside Muhammed Kuchazi (now deceased), for failing to comply with the requirements to report its activities to the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and failing to…
Author: Kunle Edun
In a landmark ruling on Monday, March 10, 2025, the Supreme Court of Nigeria dismissed appeals filed by the Attorney General of Rivers State and the Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly against the leave granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by the Court of Appeal to contest an order of perpetual injunction of Federal High Court, Port Harcourt that barred the Commission from investigating Dr. Peter Odili’s tenure as governor of the state. The dismissal by a five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice John Okoro effectively cleared the pathway for the Commission to investigate Dr. Odili’s eight year rule of the oil-rich state and brought to an end EFCC’s long-standing legal battle to probe the administration. The legal…
The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Richard M. Mills Jr. has reaffirmed that the robust working relationship between the United States government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, would continue in order to achieve significant success in the fight against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption. He stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 when he led a delegation of the US Mission in Nigeria on a familiarization visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the Commission’s corporate headquarters. “I’m very grateful for the relationship we have…
In line with its commitment to sanitising the financial space of the nation and offer the investing public adequate and reliable information on the activities of illegal ponzi scheme operators across the country, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, hereby alerts Nigerians on the operations of 58 companies posturing as investing entities and defrauding innocent Nigerians of their hard-earned money. The companies are neither registered with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, nor the Security Exchange Commission, SEC. The two regulators, in separate correspondences with the EFCC, denied that they are registered with them. The Commission has charged…
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kaduna Zonal Directorate have arrested 28 suspected ponzi scheme operators in Minna, Niger State. The suspects are: Nofisat Opeyemi, Shukurat Muritala, Odunayo Sanni, Mayowa Oyekola, Aishat Olaitan, Edward Hannah, Abioye Fathiah, Joseph Omowunmi, Kareem Ahmed, Arikeusola Afeez, Adiamo Mutholib, Abass Ibrahim, Wasiu Taofeek, Adeniji Damilare, Nurudeen Akinola and Mubarak Yekeen. Others are: Adedeji Ayobami, Alani Samuel, Ogundele Yunus, Adekunle Ibrahim, Adewale Azeez, Rufai Faruk, Fawaz Yekeen, Olade Abdullahi, Ahmed Murtala, Adisa Habeebllahi Akorede, Adigun Timilehin and Abdulfatai Ridwannullah. Their arrest followed credible intelligence that linked them to fraudulent investment activities with a company, Q-Net Ltd, which operates from a three bedroom…
Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Ilorin on Friday, March 7, 2025 convicted and sentenced two Chinese, Yang Chao and Wu Shan Chuan to prison for illegal mining of solid minerals in Kwara State. They were convicted along with their company, Crius Chemical Nigeria Limited. They were prosecuted on a one-count charge, bordering on dealing with illegal solid minerals mining. The charge reads: “That you, Yang Chao, Wu Shan Chuan, and Crius Chemical Nigeria Limited, sometime in March 2024, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, engaged in dealing with minerals without lawful authority, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 134(b) of the…
Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ibadan has convicted and sentenced two siblings, Amos Remilekun Ilesanmi and Olanrewaju Samuel Ilesanmi alongside Ugbeh Emmanuel Ukali for naira notes mutilation. The Ilesanmi brothers were ex-convicts, sentenced to three months community service each on October 2, 2024 for internet fraud, impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence by Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, while Ukali is presently being prosecuted a one-count charge of internet fraud before Justice Akintola. The three were arraigned by the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 25, 2025 on a joint one-count charge that bordered on naira mutilation.…
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kaduna Zonal Directorate on Saturday March 8, 2025 arrested 31 suspected illegal miners in Jos, Plateau State capital. They were arrested in the premises of Jiasheng Nigeria Limited, located at Dura Rayfield, Mangu Road, Jos following credible intelligence linking the company to illegal mining activities in the state. The arrested included four Chinese and 27 Nigerians, part of whom were suppliers in possession of unprocessed solid minerals, suspected to have been illegally mined. They are: Liang Qinyong,Wang Huajie, Zhong Jiajing, Long Kechong, Akilu Akonimi, Umar Mohammed, Aaron Davo, Auwal Abdullahi, Haruna Umar, Prosper Goddey, Alex Long, Mathew Onmaza, Oupe Anzaku, Samson Luka, John Nwang…
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has tasked students across the country to be loud in their opposition to any form of internet fraud, stressing that their voices matter in tackling the menace He made the appeal on Monday, March 10, 2025, during a sensitization and re-engagement visit to Doveland International School, Abuja. The event, held at the school’s assembly hall, was aimed at enlightening students about the dangers of internet fraud and corruption. Representing the Chairman at the event, Head of the Enlightenment and Reorientation Unit of the EFCC, Assistant Commander of…
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has charged students across the country to imbibe the virtues of transparency, accountability and integrity and shun all forms of corruption, economic and financial crimes. He gave the charge in Abuja on Thursday, March 7, 2025 when students of Redeemer Private Secondary School visited the EFCC’s corporate headquarters on a study tour. Addressing the students, the EFCC’s boss, who was represented by the Head, Creative Communications Unit of the Public Affairs Department, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Chris Oluka, stressed the need for transparency,…
The Executive Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede has charged Designated Non Financial Business and Professions, DNFBPs to adhere strictly to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 in the discharge of their duties.He gave the charge at one-day Anti-money Laundering sensitization workshop for DNFBPs, organised on Thursday March 6, 2025 in Benin City by the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML with the theme: “From Awareness to Action: Mobilising DNFBPs for Compliance.” The EFCC boss who spoke through the Acting Zonal Director, ACE I Effa Okim stated that one of the aims of the workshop was to broaden…
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Friday, March 7, 2025 heard further testimony from prosecution witness Nicholas Ojehomon, an internal auditor at the American International School Abuja, AISA, in the ongoing trial of a former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello. Ojehomon testified that all payments made for school fees at AISA, including those from international companies, were exclusively for the benefit of Bello’s children. Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Ojehomon detailed a series of payments, referencing several exhibits that documented the transactions. He confirmed that multiple payments were made in favour…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kano Zonal Directorate, has secured the conviction of one Hauwa Abdullahi Ibrahim for smuggling an undeclared sum of $1,154,900 (One Million, One Hundred and Fifty-Four Thousand, Nine Hundred United States Dollars) and SDR135,900 Saudi Riyals (One Hundred and Thirty-Five Thousand, Nine Hundred Saudi Riyals) from Saudi Arabia into Nigeria. She was jailed after pleading “guilty” to a two-count charge of money laundering before Justice S. M Shuaibu of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano. Ibrahim was arrested by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport for attempting…
The Third Prosecution Witness, PW3, Nicholas Ojehomon in the trial of a former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, on Thursday, March 6, 2026, narrated before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, how the defendant paid his children’s school fees in dollars and in advance until their graduation. The witness, an internal auditor in the American International School, Abuja , AISA, who stated that though he didn’t know Yahaya Bello in person, said he was aware that he was a parent to children enrolled in the school. “I did not know the defendant personally, but I am aware that he is a parent of children enrolled in…
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede has called for positive peer review and accountability among students across the country in order to promote positive change and bolster the fight against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption. Olukoyede made the call in Abuja recently during an appraisal visit to members of the Integrity Club at Glisten International Academy. Deputy Director and Spokesperson of the Commission, Dele Oyewale, who spoke for the EFCC’s boss, while addressing the Club members, urged the students to keep one another in check as fostering a culture…
The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction and sentence of 21 internet fraudsters before Justices A.N. Erhabor and W. I. Aziegbemhin of Edo State High Courts, sitting in Benin City.The convicts are: Eimuen Nathaniel, Ighagbon Anderson Andy, Precious Aigbokhai, Divine Ebosetale Okhitie, Ekpekurede Valour, Akuson Sunday, Oshoikpor Joshua, Onumegu Chukwuebuka Emmanuel, Sylvester Oseokoedion, Osifor Kenneth, Abraham Eromosele, Aliu Sanusi Aliu. Others are: Donald Emuen, Oseghale Paris, Amavu Paul, Godsent Omokhoa, Omere Osabvohien Love, Stephen Edetalen Obhanoghor, Segun Nelson Owoyele, Emmanuel Essence and Oriarewoh Divine EronmonseleThey were prosecuted on a separate one-count charge bordering on obtaining…
The Executive Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede has tasked students across the country to work towards building strong moral values in order to be relevant in the society for the good of the country. He gave the charge recently in Abuja when students of KDM Islamic School, Suleja, Niger State, visited the EFCC’s corporate headquarters, on a study tour. Addressing the students, the EFCC’s boss, who was represented by the Head, Public Interface Unit of the Public Affairs Department, AsSISTANT Commander of the EFCC, ACE 1ITony Orilade, emphasized the importance of cultivating good moral character,…
Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, March 6, 2025, ordered the final forfeiture of $1,426,175.14 ( One Million, Four Hundred and Twenty Six Thousand, One Hundred and Seventy Five United States Dollars, Fourteen cents) linked to a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele. The order followed a motion filed by the respondent seeking to set aside the court’s final forfeiture order of June 25, 2024. The court had given the final forfeiture order after a motion on notice filed and argued by Bilkisu Buhari, counsel for the EFCC, which…
Justice A.O. Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, has adjourned the alleged $340,000 fraud case involving Ezekiel ThankGod, former manager of gospel artiste, Mercy Chinwo till May 14, 2025 for hearing. The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC had filed a three-count charge against him bordering on money laundering and dishonest conversion to the tune of $340,000. One of the counts reads: “That you, EZEKIEL ONYEDIKACHUKWU THANKGOD and EEZEE GLOBAL CONCEPTS LIMITED sometime in 2023, directly retained the sum of $260,494 (Two Hundred and Sixty Thousand Four Hundred and Ninety-Four USD) in EEZEE…
The Fourteenth Prosecution Witness, PW14, Mohammed Ashelk Jidda in the trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 told a Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho that the former minister paid him a dollar equivalent of N200 million in cash for the purchase of a five bedroom property in Wuse, Abuja. Mamman is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in relation to the Mambilla Power Project on a 12-count charge, bordering on conspiracy to commit money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503.73 (Thirty-Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, Seventy-three Kobo). Jidda, a businessman and initial owner of the five bedroom property, located…