EFCC Arraigns Man over N70m Fraud in Lagos

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, May 8, 2025 arraigned one Ntai Bagshaw and his company, Terraworks Limited before Justice I. O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court, sitting in Ikeja, Lagos for fraud. They are being prosecuted on a two-count charge, bordering on obtaining money under false pretence and stealing. Count one reads: “That you Ntai Bagshow and Terraworks Limited sometime in December 2021 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division with intent to defraud obtained from Muyiwa Makinde the sum of N70,000,000.00 (Seventy Million Naira) under the false pretense that the money is for the payment of a detached Duplex in Renat Axis, located at Ogudu GRA, Lagos State which pretence you knew to be false”. Count two reads: “That you Ntai Bagshow and Terraworks Limited sometime in December 2021 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of N70,000,000.00 (Seventy Million Naira) being payment for Detached Duplex located at Ogudu GRA, Lagos State.” He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him, following which prosecution counsel, F. T. Giwa asked the court for a trial date and prayed that the defendant be remanded in a correctional center. Justice Ijelu adjourned the matter till May 13, 2025 for the hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial. He ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility.

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VeryDarkMan Regains Freedom

Popular social media activist, Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, has regained freedom from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. VDM has been in the custody of the anti-graft agency since he was arrested in Abuja on Friday. There has been uproar across the nation with Nigeria youths demanding his immediate and unconditional release. EFCC said on Tuesday that the arrest followed a series of petitions against the activist, claiming that several invitations were communicated to him but he failed to honour them. In an update on his official Facebook page on Wednesday evening, an activist cum politician, Omoyele Sowore, said “VDM Released”!

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VeryDarkMan Gets Administrative Bail

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has granted administrative bail to popular Nigerian social media activist Martin Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan. The bail was announced on Tuesday, May 6, via a statement on the EFCC’s official Twitter handle. Despite the bail, Otse will remain in custody until he fulfils the conditions of his release. The EFCC did not disclose the specific terms of the bail but confirmed that Otse is being held pending the perfection of those conditions. Otse’s arrest stemmed from what the commission described as “multiple grave allegations” related to financial crimes. According to the EFCC, the influencer had been invited several times for questioning but consistently failed to respond. “The allegations against Otse bordered on financial crimes, and he had, on several occasions, ignored invitations sent to him by the EFCC,” the agency stated. While details of the allegations have not been made public, the arrest and subsequent bail have sparked widespread attention online, where Otse commands a large and vocal following. Known for his outspoken views on social justice and political affairs, Otse has frequently courted controversy with his online activism. The EFCC emphasised that the investigation remains ongoing and did not indicate when Otse might be released from custody. Otse’s legal representatives have yet to issue a formal statement regarding the case or the bail conditions.

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Serial Investment Fraudster Bags 63 Years in Ibadan

Justice Olusola Adetujoye of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, on Monday, April 28, 2025 convicted and sentenced Olaniyan Gbenga Amos to sixty-three (63) years jail term for multiple investment fraud. He was convicted alongside his firm, Detorrid Heritage Investment Limited. They were prosecuted on 30-count charges by Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, bordering on obtaining by false pretences, an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006. Count 21 of the charge reads: “That you Olaniyan Gbenga Amos and Detorrid Heritage Investment Limited on or about 18th of June, 2020, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N995, 000.00 (Nine Hundred and Ninety-five Thousand Naira) only from Bada Titilope, when you falsely represented to him that the money is meant for registration and investment with Crime Alert Security Network with a promise of 30% return on Investment in 6 weeks (30 working days), which representations you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence of Obtaining Money under false pretence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.” Another Charge reads: “That you Olaniyan Gbenga Amos and Detorrid Heritage Investment Limited on or about 29th of January, 2020, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N920, 000.00 (Nine Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira) only from Onifade Isaac Olawale, when you falsely represented to him that the money is meant for registration and investment with Crime Alert Security Network with a promise of 30% return on Investment in 6 weeks (30 working days), which representations you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence of Obtaining Money under false pretence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.” The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him. Consequent upon his plea, the EFCC Counsel, Sanusi Galadanchi opened the case on February 17, 2022 and called eight (8) witnesses, tendered several exhibits that were marked “Exhibits A to H” and closed the case on January 24, 2023. At the end of the prosecution’s case, the defendant filed a “no case submission” but was thrown out as the defendant was ordered by the court to enter his defence. Subsequently, the defendant opened and closed its case on October 17th, 2024 where the first defendant testified for himself and on behalf of the 2nd defendant as a lone witness. The court, after the presentation of the defendants’ case, adopted the final written addresses of both parties as judgment was reserved till April 28th, 2025. At the resumption of the trial on Monday, April 28, 2025, Justice Adetujoye convicted and sentenced Amos to seven (7) years imprisonment on each count of 6, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23 and 24 but discharged and acquitted the defendant on counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 respectively. Furthermore, the court ordered that the sentence should run concurrently and the convict must restitute the victims. Amos was convicted and sentenced to seventy-five (75) years imprisonment by Justice Bayo Taiwo of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan for similar offence on December 14, 2023. The convict has two other ongoing trials before Federal High Courts in Ibadan, Oyo State.

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EFCC Arrests Socialite E-Money For Abusing Naira

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested businessman and socialite, Emeka Okonkwo, popularly known as E-Money. It was learnt that the anti-graft commission arrested E-Money at his Lagos residence on Monday evening. He was subsequently flown to Abuja. E-Money, who is a well-known figure in Nigerian social circles, is the Chief Executive Officer of Emmy Cargoes Nigeria Limited and Five Star Music. It was gathered that E-Money’s arrest is connected to allegations of naira abuse and defacement of foreign currencies levelled against him by the commission. The socialite was said to have sprayed US dollars, an act that contravenes Nigeria’s Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. The EFCC has not confirmed the development.

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EFCC Commences Investigation of $86,500, 305,150 Riyals Intercepted at Kano Airport

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kano Zonal Directorate has commenced investigation of $86,500 (Eighty-Six Thousand Five Hundred United States Dollars), 305,150 (Three Hundred and five, One Hundred and Fifty Saudi Riyals, and 200 Euros confiscated by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. The funds were discovered in an unaccompanied bag suspected to have been smuggled into the country and intercepted on Sunday April 27, 2025 when a clearing agent, Sale Bala, attempted to retrieve the bag. Upon physical inspection, Customs officers uncovered the foreign currencies concealed in bed spreads (duvets) and date packs tucked in the luggage. Further investigation led to the arrest of Bala and a second suspect, Abdullahi Tahir, who was reportedly tasked with receiving the bag after clearance. The money was handed over to the EFCC by Chief Superintendent of Customs, CSC Abdulahi Hashim and received on behalf of the Commission by Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE11 Aminu Bashir. The suspects as well as the seized funds are in the custody of the Commission and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations. The EFCC commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its vigilance and reiterated the importance of inter-agency cooperation in safeguarding the nation’s economy. The Commission, in collaboration with Customs and other stakeholders, is intensifying efforts to enlighten stakeholders on the legal requirements for cash movement and the consequences of non-compliance. On Saturday, April 26, 2025 the EFCC, ICPC and the Nigeria Customs Service jointly organized a sensitization program to educate all stakeholders about cash movement in and out of Nigeria on the legal requirements for the movement of cash as enshrined in the Nigerian laws and regulations. The event witnessed a massive audience ranging from the bureau de change community, travel agencies, airport authorities and pilgrim boards as well as the Kano Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

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EFCC Receives Petition Against Mele Kyari Promises Swift Investigation

EFCC Receives Petition Against Mele Kyari Promises Swift Investigation

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has received a petition from a coalition of lawyers and civil society groups against the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari. The petition, submitted on Friday, follows recent protests by the “Concerned Citizens Against Corruption” at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, where demonstrators called for a thorough probe into Kyari’s leadership and NNPCL’s transactions over the past five years. Similarly, on Wednesday, another group of lawyers under the banner of “Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law” marched to the Ministry of Justice to formally petition the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF). Following this, the group also submitted a parallel petition to the EFCC. Receiving the petition on behalf of the EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, the commission’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, assured the petitioners that the issues raised would be thoroughly investigated.“The issues raised in the petition will be looked into and addressed,” Oyewale stated. The petition accuses Kyari of monumental fraud, tax evasion, economic sabotage, and abuse of office during his tenure from July 2019 to February 2025. Led by Asika Raymond, the Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law alleged that Kyari, in collusion with certain contractors and consultants, inflated the costs of refinery rehabilitation projects, notably the Port Harcourt Refinery, where $1.5 billion was allegedly spent despite an initial $1 billion estimate for the rehabilitation of three refineries. The petition also highlights allegations of crude oil diversion, opaque financial transactions under the guise of “pipeline security” at a suspicious rate of 80,000 barrels per day, and irregularities in the $5 billion AKK Gas Pipeline Project. Further concerns were raised regarding fuel subsidy fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic when NNPCL reportedly increased petroleum imports, contrary to global trends of reduced fuel consumption. The petition questions the transparency of crude-backed loans worth $21.565 billion secured by NNPCL since 2019, alleging that the terms were unfavorable to Nigeria, ceding financial benefits to oil traders. Kyari is also accused of authorizing massive, undocumented spending on oil exploration projects without clear feasibility studies or demonstrated economic returns. The lawyers urged the EFCC to conduct a forensic audit of all payments made to consultants and contractors from 2019 to 2025, recover misappropriated funds, and collaborate with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to investigate suspected cases of tax evasion.

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EFCC Arrests 13 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Abuja

Operatives of the Abuja Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. EFCC, have arrested 13 suspected internet fraudsters. They were arrested on Thursday, April 24, 2025 in their hideout in Kubwa, a suburb of Abuja, following credible intelligence on their suspected involvement in internet-related activities. Items recovered from the suspects include three laptops, 17 phones and two cars. They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

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