Alleged N33.2bn Fraud : EFCC Seeks Adjournment To Regularise Witness List against Dasuki

Justice Charles Agbaza of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Abuja on Tuesday, October 8, 2025 adjourned the trial of former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki(retd) to October 31, 2025 to allow the Commission update its list of witnesses and for continuation of trial. Dasuki is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on an amended 32-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering amounting to N33.2 billion. He is being tried alongside a former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba-Kusa, and two companies — Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited. 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.” They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to them. Testifying before the court, an EFCC detective, Adariku Michael, stated that the anti-graft agency acted on intelligence report in September 2015 alleging large-scale movement of funds by the ONSA between October 2014 and April 2015 adding that the case was assigned to a special task force led by ACE 1 Halimah Kazeem, and that investigation activities began with a letter to the CBN. Solomon Umoh,SAN, counsel to Baba-Kusa objected to Micheal’s testimony arguing that his name was not included on the EFCC’s original witness list. Responding, counsel to the EFCC, O. Atolagbe explained that the witness had earlier testified before the chief judge and that the witness already tendered documents to the court. Atolagbe further informed the court that the matter before the court has lasted for almost ten years, prompting him to request for an adjournment to regularise the list of witnesses the Commission has which was not objected by the defence. After hearing from both sides, the judge adjourned the matter to October 31, 2025 for continuation of trial.  

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EFCC Arrests 42 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Gashua

Operatives of the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested 42 suspected internet fraudsters in Gashua Local Government Area of Yobe State. They were arrested in a sting operation on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at different locations within Gashua, following credible intelligence on their involvement in computer-related crimes. Items recovered from them include seven motorcycles, one Mercedes Benz car, fifty-five (55) phones and laptops, as well as playstation 5 (PS5) and playstation 4 (PS4) consoles respectively. Intelligence available to the Commission linked the suspects with various forms of internet-related fraud. They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.  

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EFCC Arrests 92 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Benin-City

Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested 92 suspected internet fraudsters in Edo State. They were arrested in a sting operation on Monday, September 29, 2025 at various locations within Benin City, Edo State. Their arrest was based on credible intelligence about their suspected involvement in computer related crimes. All the lawful procedures of arrest were followed in the course of the arrest Upon their arrest, 11 vehicles and mobile devices were recovered from them. Preliminary investigations by the Commission linked the suspects with various forms of internet-related fraud They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

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EFCC Interrogates Former NNPCL CEO Mele Kyari

EFCC Grills Former NNPCL Boss Mele Kyari Over Multi-Billion Dollar Refinery Spending

By Kamal Yalwa: ABUJA, NIGERIA – September 11, 2025 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday interrogated Mele Kyari, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), over the controversial spending of billions of dollars on Nigeria’s long-idle refineries. Kyari, who arrived at the EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja early Wednesday morning, had his international passport confiscated and was still being questioned as of 8:30 p.m., sparking speculation that he could be detained overnight. At the centre of the investigation is over $2 billion disbursed for the Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) of Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries, which continue to underperform despite years of public investment. According to EFCC sources, key focus areas include the $1.55 billion allocated for the Port Harcourt Refinery, $740.6 million for Kaduna Refinery, and $656.9 million for the Warri facility. Officials are also scrutinizing more than N4.8 trillion in operating costs reportedly incurred during Kyari’s leadership from 2019 to April 2025, despite the refineries running at minimal or no capacity. Contracts awarded during his tenure are also under review, as investigators try to trace funds allegedly misappropriated. While some former top executives are reported to have refunded portions of the funds voluntarily, Kyari has maintained his innocence and transparency in handling refinery projects. In a prior statement titled “Hard Questions, Honest Answers,” he said: “I have done my part; the EFCC must do theirs. When each of us does our duty – without fear or favour, with honour, respect and commitment – Nigeria moves forward.” Kyari’s invitation by the EFCC comes amid renewed public scrutiny of the nation’s oil sector and longstanding failures to restore refinery operations, despite more than $18 billion having been invested since 2010. Nigeria’s four refineries — two in Port Harcourt, and one each in Kaduna and Warri — have a combined capacity of 445,000 barrels per day but have operated far below capacity for over a decade. During Kyari’s tenure, the Port Harcourt Refinery was ceremoniously reopened in November 2024 after extensive repairs. However, operations were abruptly suspended just six months later, in May 2025, by his successor Bayo Ojulari, who cited unsustainable losses and serious technical setbacks. The EFCC noted that the current phase of the investigation will prioritize the forensic review of TAM-related expenditures before turning attention to what it described as “humongous contracts” approved during Kyari’s administration at NNPCL. The outcome of the probe could set a precedent for accountability in Nigeria’s oil sector, long plagued by allegations of waste, mismanagement, and corruption.

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EFCC Arraigns Man for Alleged N131.8m, $200,000 Fraud in Abuja

The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, August 18, 2025, arraigned one Umar Abdullahi before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja for fraud. Abdullahi, an Information and Communication Technology, ICT, consultant is being prosecuted on four-court charges, bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, advance fee fraud and money laundering to the tune of N131.8 million and $200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). One of the charges reads: “That you, Umar Abdullahi, sometime between July 2024 and August 2024, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did accept and transact cash payment of $200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Dollars) for allotment of shares in Multi Access Controls Limited, in excess of the Ten Million Naira threshold, without transacting through a financial institution, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 2 (1) (a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19 (2) (b) of the same Act.” Another reads: “That you, Umar Abdullahi, sometime in June 2024, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N104,980,000.00 (One Hundred and Four Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira) into Account Number: 2266267081, domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, from Aura Integrated Energy Resources Limited under the false pretence that the money was for procurement of telecommunication equipment and logistics for Nigerian Communications Commission staff, a pretence you knew to be false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.” He pleaded “not guilty” to all charges, following which prosecution counsel, Cosmas Ugwu, urged the court to remand him in a correctional facility pending trial, noting that he had earlier jumped an administrative bail granted him by the EFCC, while the defence counsel, A.O. Agbonlahor, pleaded with the court for the defendant to be remanded in EFCC’s custody. Justice Nwite after listening to both counsel, ordered that Abdullahi be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja and adjourned the case till September 8, 2025 for commencement of trial. Abdullahi’s prosecution followed a petition by Alhaji Shehu Badamosi to the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, in which he alleged that the defendant approached him, claiming to have secured a contract with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and needed financing to the tune of N131.8m and $200,000 for its execution. The petitioner further claimed that the defendant after receiving the money from him became incommunicado, while all his efforts to recover his money from him, proved abortive.

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EFCC to Arraign 23 Suspected Internet Fraudsters Arrested Near Obasanjo Library

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will arraign 23 of the 93 suspected internet fraudsters recently arrested at a hotel located near the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The suspects are scheduled to appear before Justice D. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on charges including impersonation, identity theft, and other cybercrime offences. According to the EFCC, the arraignment will be conducted in batches after profiling the individuals arrested during a pool party allegedly organised to celebrate proceeds of online fraud. Investigations indicate that the party was initially planned for two other venues before being moved to the hotel close to the OOPL in an apparent bid to avoid detection. Intelligence operatives reportedly trailed the suspects to the location. The anti-graft agency clarified that the operation did not target the former president’s facility, but focused solely on the suspects, many of whom have allegedly confessed to engaging in internet fraud. The EFCC added that the remaining suspects will be arraigned once ongoing investigations and profiling are concluded.

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EFCC Arrests Former Sokoto Governor Tambuwal Over Alleged ₦189bn Fraudulent Withdrawals

Former Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, is in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at its Abuja headquarters over allegations of fraudulent cash withdrawals totalling ₦189 billion. According to EFCC sources, the transactions, allegedly carried out during Tambuwal’s tenure, are suspected to be in clear violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The former governor reportedly arrived at the EFCC office around 11:30 a.m. on Monday and was ushered in to face a panel of interrogators over the alleged financial infractions. Investigators have described the withdrawals as a major breach of financial regulations. As of press time, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.

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EFCC Arrests Tambuwal Over Alleged Withdrawals of N189B

Former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at its Abuja headquarters. Tambuwal is being quizzed over allegations of fraudulent cash withdrawals amounting to ₦189 billion, reportedly in clear breach of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. It was reliably gathered that the former governor arrived at the EFCC office around 11:30 a.m., where he was ushered in to face a panel of interrogators over the alleged financial infractions. The controversial withdrawals, said to have been made during his tenure, are being described by investigators as a significant violation of financial regulations. As of press time, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale declined to comment on the ongoing investigation. The development marks the latest in a series of high-profile corruption probes involving former public office holders.

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