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ICPC Arraigns Former Foreign Affairs Deputy Director for Alleged Diversion of Funds

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Mrs. Christiana Goka, a former Deputy Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on allegations of misappropriating public funds amounting to Five Million, Three Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty-Six Naira (N5,398,656). Mrs. Goka, who also served as the Head of the Department of Research Monitoring Information System at the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), was brought before Justice J.A. Aina of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Kwali, Abuja, on a five-count charge bordering on misappropriation of funds and providing false statements. According to the charges, Mrs. Goka allegedly misappropriated N5,164,656 from funds earmarked for a botched management retreat of the Ministry at Dutse, Jigawa State, in 2017. One of the charges reads: “That you, Mrs. Christiana Goka ‘F’, sometime in 2017 or thereabout, being a public officer serving as the Deputy Director and Head of the Department of Research Monitoring Information System at the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Garki, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did confer a corrupt advantage upon yourself in the sum of N5,164,656.00 (Five Million One Hundred and Sixty-Four Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty-Six Naira), which was part of the larger sum of N5,398,656.00 (Five Million Three Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty-Six Naira) meant for the Botched Management Retreat at Dutse, Jigawa State in 2017, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. “That you, Mrs. Christiana Goka ‘F’, sometimes in 2017 or thereabout, being a public officer serving-as the Deputy Director and Head of Department Research Monitoring-Information System in the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (‘DTCA’”), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Garki Abuja Federal Capital Territory, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did make a statement on 18/02/22 to Sado Danjuma, an officer of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission while in the course of exercising his duties of investigation, in which you made a statement to wit – that the sum of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira) returned to you in cash by one Bassey Ikpeme on the instruction of the then Director General of DTCA, Ambassador Abduljalil Suleiman (now late) was false and never happened, which statement to your knowledge is false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 25(1)(a) and punishable under Section 25(1)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act,2000” Additionally, Mrs. Goka is accused of providing false information to an ICPC investigator, denying the receipt of N1,000,000 in cash, which was reportedly returned to her on the instruction of the then-Director General of DTCA, the late Ambassador Abduljalil Suleiman. At the commencement of the trial on March 27, 2025, the prosecution counsel, David Nwaze, called two witnesses who testified and were cross-examined. This act constitutes an offence under Section 25(1)(a) and is punishable under Section 25(1)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. The Court, having previously granted the Defendant bail under the same conditions as her administrative bail, allowed her to remain on those terms after she pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read to her. As part of the bail conditions, the Defendant must provide a surety who is employed in the Federal Republic of Nigeria at Grade Level 15 or above and resides in Abuja. The surety is required to submit a letter of appointment, proof of last promotion, an identity card, and a passport photograph. Justice J.A. Aina subsequently adjourned the case to June 5, 2025, for the continuation of the trial.

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Alleged N33.2b Fraud: EFCC Re-Arraigns Dasuki, Three Others

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, has re-arraigned former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd) before Justice Charles Agbaza of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, for fraud. He was re-arraigned alongside a former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Aminu Baba Kusa, Acacia Holdings, Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited. They are being prosecuted on a 32-count charge, bordering on breach of trust and dishonesty to the tune of N33,200,000,000 (Thirty-three billion, Two Hundred Million Naira). Count one reads: “That you COL. MOHAMMED SAMBO DASUKI (RTD.) whilst being the National Security Adviser, on or about 27th November, 2014 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, entrusted with dominion over certain properties, to wit: the sum of N10, 000, 000, 000 (Ten Billion Naira) being part of the funds in the account of National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the equivalent of which sum you received from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in foreign currencies to wit: $47,000,000 (Forty Seven Million Dollars) and 5.6 million Euros purporting same to be for special security service, committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you dishonestly released the said amount for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential primary election and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol. 4, LFN 2004.” Count five reads: “That you COL. MOHAMMED SAMBO DASUKI (RTD.) whilst being the National Security Adviser, between 9th October, 2014 and 17th April, 2015 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly misappropriated certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N1, 450,000,000 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) belonging to the Federal Republic of Nigeria which sum was transferred to ACACIA HOLDINGS LIMITED’S bank account controlled by one Aminu Baba-Kusa purporting same to be payment for organizing prayers and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol. 4, LFN 2004.” Count 19 reads: “That you COL. MOHAMMED SAMBO DASUKI (RTD.) whilst being the National Security Adviser, between 4th April, 2014 and 30th November, 2014 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, entrusted with dominion over certain properties, to wit: an aggregate sum of N4, 685,000,000 (Four Billion, Six Hundred and Eighty-Five Million Naira) being part of the funds in the account of the office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria, committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you dishonestly transferred same into the bank account of SYVAN MCNAMARA LIMITED purporting the said sum to be payment for physical security infrastructure whereas the said amount was released for the Peoples’ Democratic Party’s gubernatorial elections campaign in Ekiti and Osun States and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol. 4, LFN 2004.” They pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to them, prompting prosecution counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe to ask the court for a trial date, while the defence counsel prayed the court to allow Dasuki and Kusa to continue to enjoy their existing bail. The prosecution counsel who did not object to the prayer, however, sought assurance for the defendants’ regular presence in court throughout the trial. Justice Agbaza adjourned the matter till July 1, 2025 for hearing. It could be recalled that the trial was initially before Justice Hussain Baba-Yusuf of the FCT High Court, but now reassigned to Justice Agbaza.

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EFCC Arraigns One for Suspected Internet Fraud in Uyo

Our Reporters03 mins

The Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned Omereonye Solomon Chigozie (a.k.a Kolor Cabiek Ye) before Justice Maurine A. Oyetenu of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State for alleged internet fraud to the tune of $1,500 ( One Thousand Five Hundred United States Dollars). He was arraigned on Thursday, March 20, 2025 on a two-count charge bordering on impersonation, possession of fictitious messages and obtaining by false pretence through a fictitious Facebook account: “Kolor Cabiek Ye”. One of the charges reads, “That you Omereonye Solomon Chigozie (a.k.a Kolor Cabiek Ye) Sometime between 2019 and 2024 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to obtain property and gain advantage fraudulently presented yourself as Kolor Cabiek Ye on social media platform (Facebook) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2)(b) (i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) (Amendment) Act 2024 and punishable under Section 22(2) (b) (iv) of the scime Act”. Count two reads “That you Chigozie Omereonye Solomon (aka Kolor Cabiek Ye) sometime between 2019 and 2024 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court did take possession of the sum of $1500 (One Thousand, Five Hundred United States Dollars) while impersonating Kolor Cabiek Ye on Facebook which you reasonably ought to have known forms proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act”. Chigozie pleaded not guilty to both counts when they were read to him. In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Enobong Ubokudom prayed the court to fix a date for commencement of trial and remand him in a Correctional Centre. Defence counsel, Ikwere Davies did not oppose the prayers. Justice Onyetenu adjourned the matter to May 22, 2025 for trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Correctional Centre, Uyo. Chigozie was arrested in Uyo on October 3, 2024 on credible intelligence regarding his suspicious activities on the internet. Investigations showed that he impersonated foreigners to defraud his victims across the world.

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EFCC arraigns Ex-AMCON MD, Ahmed Kuru, 4 Others for 76bn, $31.5m fraud

Our Reporters01 mins

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, January 20, 2025 arraigned a former Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Kuru, current Managing Director of Arik Air, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, and Receiver Manager of Arik Air. Kamilu Omokide, alongside Union Bank Plc and Super Bravo Limited, before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos on a six-count charge bordering on alleged theft of properties belonging to Arik Air and abuse of office. They pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them Details shortly…

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EFCC tackles Yahaya Bello’s non-appearance in Court 

Our Reporters07 mins

Lead prosecution counsel in the trial of former governor of Kogi State Yahaya Adoza Bello, Kemi Pinheiro SAN, on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, told Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja that the recent appearance of Bello at the parking lots of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was out of place as both the trial court and Court of Appeal clearly ordered him to present himself for arraignment in the N80.2billion money laundering charges preferred against him by the EFCC. “There is nowhere my Lordship or the Court of Appeal ordered that Yahaya Bello present himself at the EFCC car park, but rather to appear before my Lordship for arraignment. What is even more worrisome and disconcerting is that the defendant went to the EFCC car park holding the hands of a person with immunity who came with all the full security of his office” “The implication, my Lord,  is if there was an attempt to get him from the person of immunity, there would be an invitation to anarchy.  The invitation by the EFCC later in the day for Yahaya Bello to come alone, not with a person with immunity, security persons and other people was resisted again on their own admission”, he said. Speaking further, Pinheiro pointed out, “My Lord,  we wrote a letter to the defendant’s lawyers drawing our colleagues’ attention that arraignment is not conducted in EFCC’s car park, but the defendant should be in court today according to the judgment of the Court of Appeal and this honourable court’s ruling”. Pinheiro also urged the judge to demonstrate his might and exercise his power to show Bello’s counsel A.M Agboyi that the court is not a vaudeville for entertainment but for serious business. “This court is not a vaudeville, a vaudeville is a place of diverse entertainment.  I want to borrow the words of Justice Uwaifo that no party should make a court a place of entertainment. The court must resist it. It is a place of serious and solemn business”, he said.  He specifically sought the order of the court for Agboyi to be sanctioned and referred to the Legal  Practitioners  Disciplinary Committee, LPDC, for turning the court to a vaudeville. My Lord, it is against this backdrop that I will make this assertion that my learned friend wants to turn this place to an entertainment place or a casino. I want the court to use its power against him because his senior advocates have left and they pushed him so that it will serve as a lesson to others,” he said. He also sought leave of the court to proceed to the trial of  Bello in absentia. Meanwhile, Abdul Mohammed SAN, counsel to Adeola Adedipe SAN, craved the indulgence of the court to exercise its discretion not to charge Adedipe for contempt. “Our application is filed on the 18th  of July 2024, it is supported by an 11-paragraph affidavit deposed to by the applicant Mr. Adeola Adedipe. That affidavit has an exhibit marked A, and in compliance with my Lord is a written address. “We are urging my Lord to exercise his discretion, we are on bended knees begging you to exercise your discretion and grant the prayers that are contained in the affidavit”, he said. After listening to the counsels, Justice Nwite stressed that “the matter is slated for arraignment, and it seems it has gone back to square one. It’s been over five months now and I don’t know how the case is going. With the submission made by counsels this morning, it’s quite unfortunate, but I have to reserve my comments, I have to reserve judgement on the submission of these counsels”. He thereafter adjourned the matter till October 30, 2024, for arraignment and ruling. The EFCC is prosecuting Bello on 18-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80.2billion.

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