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Tag: EFCC

Enugu Govt Recovers ₦1.28bn From Sujimoto CEO Over Smart School Funds

Wale busari03 mins

The Enugu State Government has recovered ₦1.284 billion from Mr Olasijibomi Ogundele, Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Ltd, following an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission into the alleged diversion of funds earmarked for the construction of Smart Green Schools in the state. The recovered funds, which include payments made to the company for projects reportedly abandoned or largely unexecuted, were formally handed over to the state government on Wednesday at the EFCC Enugu Zonal Office through bank drafts and cheques. While presenting the cheques, EFCC Zonal Director in Enugu, Daniel Ise, said the recovery was carried out in line with the commission’s statutory responsibility to trace, recover and return public funds lost to economic and financial crimes. He explained that the action followed a petition submitted by the Enugu State Government, which triggered a full-scale investigation by the commission. “As of today, we have been able to recover drafts to the tune of ₦1,234,350,000 and an additional ₦50,000,000, bringing the total to ₦1,284,350,000 for the benefit of Enugu State government,” Ise said. He credited the progress made so far to the diligence and professionalism of EFCC officers handling the matter, but stressed that the recovery and handover did not signal the conclusion of the investigation. According to him, the commission will continue to scrutinise all aspects of the petition to ensure that no public funds remain unaccounted for. “This does not mark the end of the case. We will look at every facet of the petition to ensure that every kobo belonging to the Enugu State Government that is not accounted for is tracked and recovered,” he said. Ise added that where evidence of criminal wrongdoing is established, the EFCC would proceed with prosecution in line with existing laws. He also cautioned contractors to strictly comply with relevant regulations, particularly the Procurement Act. The EFCC reaffirmed its commitment to working with governments at all levels to protect public resources, warning that accountability in the execution of public contracts remains non-negotiable.

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Alleged N125m Fraud: Ex- Reps Gave Me 14 Dud Cheques -Witness Tells Court

Wale busari05 mins

The First Prosecution Witness, PW1, Mustapha Usman in the trial of a former member, House of Representatives, Aliyu Ibrahim Gebi on Monday, January 19, 2026 narrated before a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja and presided over by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie how the defendant gave him 14 dud cheques worth N125, 000.000 (One Hundred and Twenty Five Million Naira). The witness, while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel Slyvanus Tahir, SAN disclosed that he met the defendant through Hajiya Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, a then House of Representative member. According to him, “In 2011, Gebi approached Honourable Aishatu for a friendly loan of N125 million and it was granted. I was there when the first defendant wrote an undertaking to repay in 60 days’ time without interest. At the expiry date of the 60 days, he did not fulfil his obligation, after which I met with the defendant, for the repayment of the loan. “Thereafter, he gave me some cheques, totalling N125, 500,000, (One Hundred and Twenty-five Million, Five Hundred Thousand. The N500, 000 (Five Hundred Thousand) on it was when I was following up on the repayment, he told me he was expecting some money from the United States of America and he asked me for N1million for his ticket and I gave him N500,000 to reduce the risk. Some of the cheques were from Craft Technology Ltd while some were directly from the first defendant’s personal account. The cheques were issued by the first defendant in favor of my company Musty Petroleum Limited. They were 14 in total.” Testifying further, he said, “I presented the cheques to UBA and they were returned unpaid. I was told withdrawal attention was required. Because the cheques were UBA cheques where I also have an account, I got to know that Craft Technologies Ltd and the first defendant personal accounts were not funded. I went back to him and he kept on promising that he will pay.  When the payment was not forthcoming, I wrote a petition to EFCC and at that point, he started paying. “He paid the first N20 million and another N34 million. He was paying in bits, up till when he started the court case. The last payment was about two weeks ago. I got a credit of N12 million. So when we came to court the last time, which was December 18, 2025. He told me he had finished paying and I said to him that that was not correct. He looked at his records and he paid the outstanding the same day after leaving the court. The outstanding was N10, 500,000 (Ten Million, Five Hundred Thousand.” The letter of undertaking, dated December 19, 2011 was tendered and admitted in evidence, marked Exhibit PW1a. The 14 cheques in favor of Musty Technology Ltd, dated January 12, 2012 were tendered and admitted in evidence, marked PW1b to PW1xiv. The petition to the EFCC, dated September 13, 2012, was equally admitted and marked PW16l. Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter till January 21, 2026 for continuation of trial. Gebi was first arraigned on January 29, 2013 before Justice Abba Mohammed of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on a13-count charge. With Justice Mohammed’s elevation to the Court of Appeal, the case was reassigned to Justice Onwuegbuzie.

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EFCC Hands Over Recovered N802.4m to First Bank

Fola Badmus04 mins

The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Monday, January 12, 2026 handed over the sum of N802,420,000 ( Eight Hundred and Two Million, Four Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira only) to First Bank Nigeria Plc. The money was recovered from a suspect, Ojo Eghosa Kingsley who took unlawful possession of over N1.3 billion belonging to the bank. The bank, in its petition to the EFCC, had alleged that system glitches led it to erroneously credit the account of Kingsley, a customer of the bank with the said amount. The Commission in its investigation discovered that the suspect, upon the receipt of the money, transferred a good measure of it to the bank accounts of his mother, Itohan Ojo and that of his sister, Edith Okoro Osaretin, and committed part of the money to completion of his building project and the funding of a new flamboyant lifestyle. With the recovery of the money from the identified bank accounts, the EFCC handed it over in drafts to First Bank. The Acting Director, Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, Deputy Commander of the EFCC, DCE Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad, while handing over the money, stated that the EFCC will continue to discharge its mandate effectively in the overall interests of the society. “The EFCC Establishment Act empowers us to trace and recover proceeds of crime and restitute the victim. In this case, First Bank was the victim and that is exactly what we have done. We will continue to discharge our duties to ensure that fraudsters do not benefit from fraud and that economic and financial crimes are nipped in the bud,” he said. In his response, Olalere Sunday Ajayi, Business Manager, First Bank, Benin, who received the drafts on behalf of the bank, commended the EFCC for the swiftness and the professionalism it brought to bear in the handling of the matter and expressed the bank’s gratitude to the Commission. He described the EFCC as one of Nigeria’s most effective and reliable institutions. Kingsley and all other suspects in the matter have been charged to court for stealing by the EFCC.

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Aliko Dangote Calls On EFCC To Probe Ex-NMDPRA Boss Farouk Ahmed Over Alleged Wealth Misconduct

Wale busari03 mins

Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Group, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Farouk Ahmed, the former CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), over alleged financial impropriety. Dangote accused Ahmed of abusing his office, amassing wealth beyond his legitimate earnings, and living a lifestyle inconsistent with his public service salary. The development follows Dangote’s earlier petition in December 2025 to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, in which he raised concerns about corruption and financial misconduct. Ahmed resigned from his position on December 17 after meeting with President Bola Tinubu. On January 7, Dangote withdrew his petition from the ICPC and filed a fresh complaint with the EFCC, urging chairman Ola Olukoyede to investigate Ahmed for financial misconduct, breaches of the code of conduct for public officers, and related offences. The petition highlighted that Ahmed reportedly spent over $7 million on the education of his four children — Faisal Farouk at Montreux School, Farouk Jr. at Aiglon College, Ashraf Farouk at Institut Le Rosey, and Farhana Farouk at La Garenne International School — in Switzerland over six years. Dangote argued that such expenditures far exceed what Ahmed could have earned legally as a public servant. The petition also cited legal precedents, noting that the EFCC and its partner agencies are empowered to prosecute financial crimes, and courts do not hesitate to punish offenders when a prima facie case is established. Dangote’s action signals a renewed push for accountability and transparency in public office, particularly regarding unexplained wealth and financial conduct.

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EFCC Reaffirms Yahaya Bello Innocent Until Proven Guilty, Court To Decide Outcome

Wale busari03 mins

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stressed that former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello remains innocent until proven guilty by a court of law. The commission’s statement comes amid public debate over Bello’s announcement to contest the Kogi Central senatorial seat in 2027. He is currently standing trial before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, over allegations of misappropriating ₦80.2 billion of Kogi State funds during his tenure as governor. Speaking on Monday during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show, EFCC Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwuajeren, explained that criminal prosecutions in Nigeria require time, involving the presentation of evidence and witnesses before the court. He emphasized that the outcome of Bello’s trial is entirely for the judiciary to determine. “The trial is ongoing. We are presenting witnesses and evidence, but it is not the commission that will decide the matter — the court will,” Uwuajeren said. “Our responsibility is to prosecute the charges faithfully and ensure that both the prosecution and the defense receive justice.” He further noted that the Nigerian Constitution presumes anyone standing trial to be innocent until proven guilty, adding that Bello’s standing within his political party is separate from the charges before the court. “Whatever is happening within his party is the party’s business. EFCC is not a political party; we are focused solely on enforcing the law. Nothing has gone wrong in the handling of this case, and we remain committed to ensuring justice,” Uwuajeren said. The EFCC reaffirmed its commitment to prosecuting the case diligently while reiterating that Bello’s legal innocence remains intact until the court delivers a verdict.

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Court Denies Bail To Bauchi Finance Commissioner In $9.7 Million Terrorism Financing Case

Wale busari03 mins

The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the bail application of Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and his co-defendants, who face allegations of financing terrorism totaling $9.7 million. Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on Monday, said the charges posed a serious threat to national security and public safety. He noted that terrorism-related offenses undermine social order, and granting bail before trial could endanger the public. While acknowledging the constitutional presumption of innocence under Section 36(5), the judge emphasized that the provision is “not absolute” and that factors such as the nature of the offense, available evidence, and potential severity of punishment must guide bail decisions. “I have carefully considered the affidavit evidence, the statements of prosecution witnesses, including Dan Lawan Abdulmumuni, and the grave threat this case poses to national security and public safety. The prosecution has successfully raised a reasonable presumption of criminal responsibility,” Justice Nwite said. “In view of these factors, the bail application is refused, and the case will proceed on an accelerated schedule.” The trial was adjourned to January 13 for commencement. Adamu and his co-defendants — Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed — were remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre after their arraignment on a 10-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 31, 2025. All the accused pleaded not guilty. The charges allege that between January and May 2024, the defendants conspired to provide $2,300,000 to Bello Bodejo and his associates, purportedly with approvals from Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed. Two other accused in the case, former Bauchi Accountant-General Sirajo Jaja and Samaila Irmiya Liman, remain at large. In a separate money-laundering case, Adamu was recently granted bail of N500 million with two sureties of the same amount. The court ordered that the sureties be verified landowners in Abuja’s Maitama, Asokoro, or Gwarimpa districts.

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EFCC Rejects Bauchi Governor’s Allegations Of Political Targeting

Wale busari04 mins

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed claims by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed that the agency is being used by the Federal Government or political rivals to target him and his administration. In a statement released on Friday, the EFCC urged Nigerians to disregard the governor’s allegations, calling them baseless and misleading. “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission views with great displeasure the claims by Governor Bala Mohammed that the Commission is being used by political opponents, particularly the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to persecute him and his aides,” the statement said. The commission described the allegations as “wild” and “far-fetched,” emphasizing that it operates independently and without political influence. “The EFCC is an independent agency established to fight economic and financial crimes. It carries out its mandate without favoritism or ill will. Suggesting that the Commission can be influenced by political interests is mischievous and condemnable,” it added. The EFCC also rejected claims that any political officeholder could sway its investigations. “It is derogatory for the governor to attribute the Commission’s activities in Bauchi State to the influence of Mr. Wike. No political official can interfere with the investigative processes of the Commission,” the statement read. Addressing the governor’s own legal history, the EFCC said Bala Mohammed was already facing charges before he assumed office. “If Governor Mohammed were transparent, he would have disclosed that he was on trial for money laundering at the time he won the governorship election in Bauchi State,” the agency said, noting that only the constitutional immunity attached to his office prevented prosecution. The EFCC also recalled that investigations into Mohammed date back to 2016, questioning his claims of political persecution. “Who influenced the Commission to investigate him in 2016 and charge him to court?” the agency asked. On ongoing cases involving Bauchi State officials, the EFCC said the matters are before the courts and based on evidence, not political vendetta. “The facts against some Bauchi State government officials have already been presented to the court,” the statement said, urging the public to review the charges themselves. The commission dismissed the governor’s remarks regarding terrorism financing, stating that it was simply enforcing the law. “Raising alarms over terrorism financing issues is unfounded. Ignoring legal violations would amount to dereliction of duty,” it said. Finally, the EFCC accused politicians of double standards, noting that allegations of persecution typically surface only when opposition figures are investigated. “It is hypocritical for opposition politicians to claim persecution each time an opposition figure is called to account,” the statement said, advising Governor Mohammed to focus on governance while the Commission continues its work against financial crimes.

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Court To Rule January 7 On Bail Applications Of Ex-AGF Abubakar Malami, Wife And Son

Wale busari02 mins

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 7 to rule on the bail applications of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, and his wife, Bashir Asabe. Justice Emeka Nwite set the date on Friday after the defence, led by Joseph Daudu, SAN, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, adopted their processes and presented arguments. The EFCC, in case number FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, has charged Malami, his wife, and son with alleged money laundering. The former AGF, his wife, and son are listed as the first, second, and third defendants, respectively. The anti-graft agency claims the defendants carried out suspicious financial transactions and sought to conceal the illegal origin of billions of naira through bank accounts and property purchases in Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi. The alleged offences reportedly took place between 2015 and 2025, during Malami’s tenure as AGF under the administration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari. According to the EFCC, Malami, Abdulaziz, and Asabe conspired to disguise the source of the funds, acquire properties indirectly, and retain sums they allegedly knew were proceeds of unlawful activity, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.

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