The trial of a former Kogi State governor, Yahya Adoza Bello, alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu continued on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court with the First Prosecution Witness, (PW1), Fabian Nwaora informing the court, that Yahya Bello’s accomplice, Shehu Bello, opted for a refund from EFAB Property Limited, the sum of N 550 million (Five Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) he paid for a property when he learned that the said property has come under the investigation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and linked to Yahaya Bello. The witness, Chairman of EFAB Property Limited, further disclosed that the property Shehu Bello bought was located at No.1 Ikogosi Street, Maitama, Abuja. Led in evidence by prosecution…
Author: Kunle Edun
The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Services (FCT-IRS) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to assist it in tackling tax liability of suspects being investigated for any form of economic and financial crime and other acts of corruption. This appeal was made in Abuja on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 when the management team of FCT-IRS, led by its Acting Executive Chairman, Michael Ango came on a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the EFCC’s corporate headquarters Ango specifically stated that the FCT-IRS would need EFCC’s help in the…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on January 28, 2025, re-arraigned one Murtala Adebayo, before Justice R.A. Oshodi of a Special Offences Court, sitting in Ikeja, Lagos for an alleged N19 million fraud. Adebayo was initially arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada on January 24, 2024 on a three-count charge to which he pleaded “not guilty”. In the course of the trial, a petitioner alleged that the defendant used “phony” Corporate Affairs Commission documents as well as fake tax documents to secure bail from the court. Subsequently, Justice Dada withdrew from the case and returned the case file to the Chief Judge…
Justice Muhammad Maina of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Ahmed Saleh Mubi to one-year imprisonment for criminal misappropriation. Mubi was arraigned on Thursday, September 19, 2024, by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, on a one-count bordering on criminal misappropriation to the tune of N19,691, 200.00 (Nineteen Million, Six Hundred and Ninety One Thousand, Two Hundred Naira). The lone count reads: “That you Ahmed Saleh Mubi, between December, 2019 to March 2020 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court offered to sell…
The Nigerian Exchange Group, NGX, has sought enhanced collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in enhancing compliance with digital trading of assets and ridding the country’s stock market of fraud. This request was made in Abuja on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 when the Chief Executive Officer of NGX , Olufemi Shobanjo led a staff delegation on a courtesy visit to EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the Commission’s corporate headquarters. Shobanjo noted that the evolution of fraud has moved from manual to digital across all sectors with criminal elements taking advantage of the digital opportunities to stay a step ahead. He emphasized the need for NGX to strengthen its collaboration with the EFCC towards effective protection of…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 handed over four landed title documents recovered from criminal syndicates to their owners. The title documents were falsified by a syndicate of land fraudsters in Abuja. They allegedly forged the documents and deprived the lawful owners of their property. EFCC’s investigators, working on actionable intelligence, rounded up the fraudsters and recovered the documents for the legitimate owners. At the handing over of the documents to the victims on Tuesday, Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede noted that the recovery of the original title documents was a…
The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned one Barrister Benjamin Chukwuemeka Nwobodo before Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State on a five-count charge bordering on forgery and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N12,000,000. 00 (Twelve Million Naira only). Count three of the charge reads: “That you, Benjamin Chukwuemeka Nwobodo on 15th day of January, 2014 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of Nine Million Naira only (N9,000,000.00) from one Wilson Ikeani Igwe under the…
The Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned One Habu Gambo on a one- count charge bordering on intent to defraud and fraudulently obtaining the gross sum of N14,907,000 (Fourteen Million Nine Hundred and Seven Thousand Naira) before Justice Mashkur Salisu of the Federal High Court Jalingo, Taraba State The charge reads: That you Habu Gambo (a.k.a Abubakar Gambo) sometimes between November 2020 and February 2022 at Jalingo Taraba State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court , with intent to defraud, fraudulently obtained the gross sum of Fourteen Million Nine Hundred and Seven…
Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on Monday, January 27, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Babagana Kansulum to six months imprisonment for criminal misappropriation. Kansulum was arraigned by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, on a one -count charge for the offence of criminal misappropriation to the tune of N2,650,000.00 (Two Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira). The count reads: “That you Babagana Kamsulum, with national identification number 5763879198 sometime in 2020, in Maiduguri, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court dishonestly converted to your own use the sum…
The trial of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, continued on Monday, 27 January 2025, with the Fifth Prosecution Witness, PW5, Musa Odiniyan informing Justice S. C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court that the company, Al Buraq Global Investment was not qualified for the contract awarded for the repairs of Katsina Airport by the ministry under the leadership of the first defendant. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting Sirika and three others: Fatima Hadi Sirika, Jalal Sule Hamma and Al Buraq Global Investment on six -count amended charges bordering on contract fraud to…
As a gesture of immortalizing a slain officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, ASE1 Aminu Sahabi Salisu, the Commission has named the administrative block of its Academy in Karu, Abuja after him. Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede disclosed this in Abuja on Saturday, January 25, 2025 while addressing staff of the Commission at the Annual Rewards and Recognition Ceremony held at the EFCC’s Academy. According to him, Salisu paid the supreme price in the service of the nation and his memory should be kept alive. “We are saddened by…
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South-East Zone have condoled with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on the loss of one of its operatives, Aminu Sahabi Salisu, stressing that his death caused them grief and regret. Salisu, an Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, ASE11 was killed in cold blood while on a legitimate duty by a suspected internet fraudster, Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu on January 17, 2025. The students expressed their grief and solidarity with the Commission on Friday, January 24, 2025 when a delegation, led by Comrade Charles Obinna Ijeomah paid a condolence visit to the EFCC’s Executive Chairman,…
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, has sought a more robust working relationship with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. This quest was made in Abuja on Thursday, January 23, 2025 when its Country Representative, Cheikh Ousmane Toure led a staff delegation on a courtesy visit to the EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the Commission’s corporate headquarters. Toure, who said that he was eager for knowledge sharing among West African States explained that “this is the only way we can bring a little bit of more safety and security to our children. The menaces are many and complex and…
The United States Director of Narcotics and Law Enforcement in the Nigerian Embassy, Candace Spradley, has expressed delight with the efforts and successes of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in its crusade against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption, describing them as impressive. She made the observation in Abuja on Thursday, January 23, 2025 when she led a delegation of officials of Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) on a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the Commission’s corporate headquarters, Abuja. “I am so pleased to be with you here, today. We’ve come just to…
Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on Thursday, January 23, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Kolo Ngwari to one year imprisonment for cheating. Nwari was re-arraigned by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a one count amended charge for the offence of cheating to the tune of N1,650,000.00 (One Million Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira). The count reads: “That you Kolo Ngwari, sometime in August, 2018 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, at Pompomari bye pass layout, Maiduguri, Borno State dishonestly induced Alfred…
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal High Court, FCT sitting in Apo, Abuja on Thursday, January 23, 2025 granted the prayers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to amend charges brought against a former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye and make him take his plea. Agunloye is standing trial by the EFCC on seven-count charges, bordering on official corruption and fraudulent award of Mambilla Power Project contract to the tune of $6billion (Six Billion United States Dollars). Earlier on July 1 2024, Prosecution Counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, drew the attention of the court to the amended charge, urging the court to accept same and cause the defendant to take his plea,…
Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have arrested 37 (Thirty-seven) suspected internet fraudsters. The all-male suspects were arrested in a sting operation at Commissioners’ Quarters, Dr. J. O. Ukwutinife Close, Ifite, Awka, Anambra State, following credible intelligence linking them to fraudulent internet activities. Items recovered from them include six exotic cars, laptops and mobile phones. They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded. Dele Oyewale Head, Media & Publicity January 22, 2025 Credit: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
The trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman continued on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC presenting its 8th witness, PW8. The witness, PW8 Abdullahi Suleman, a bureau de change operator, narrated how more than N22 billion was allegedly siphoned from the Federal Ministry of Power while Mamman was Minister. He said the naira equivalent of the money was exchanged for United States dollars through his business accounts. Mamman is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit money laundering to…
The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, arraigned Benjamin Okoye, Moughalu David Arinze, Okey Okeke, Ekene Mgbeokwere and Eboh Thaddeus on a one-count charge bordering on alleged tampering with a forfeited property before Justice A.O.Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. The count reads: “That you, Ilongwo Angela (NOW AT LARGE), Benjamin Okoye , Moughalu David Arinze, Okey Okeke, Ekene Mgbeokwere, Eboh Thaddeus, sometime in July, 2024 in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without due authorization dealt, with the property of Obinna Ezenwaka…
Justice A.O. Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, ordered the final forfeiture of a property, a u-shaped two-storey building in Lagos,to the federal Government of Nigeria. The property is situated in the premises of Goodwill Private Schools, Ikorodu, Lagos State. The judge gave the order, following a motion ex- parte dated January 8, 2025 and filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, through its counsel, Hannatu KofarNaisa. The court had, on November 8, 2024, granted an interim forfeiture order of the property and also directed the publication of the same…