Tag: Court

 

The arrangement of a woman, Tracynither Ohiri, for allegedly cyberstalking the Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Wednesday suffered a setback at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The matter, which was fixed for Ohiri to take her plea before Justice James Omotosho, could not proceed due to the absence of the defendant in court.

When the case was called, neither Ohiri nor her lawyer was in court

The prosecution lawyer, Wisdom Madaki, informed the court that though the case was scheduled for Ohiri’s arraignment, they were unable to serve her with the charge.

He said the prosecution had planned to serve Ohiri at an Abuja magistrate court on Tuesday where she was facing another trial, but the defendant did not come to the court.

Madaki, however, said that the police had applied to discontinue the case at the magistrate court.

He then prayed Justice Omotosho for another date to enable them do the needful.

“Now that you have withdrawn your matter at the magistrate court, how will you serve the defendant,” the judge asked.

Responding, Madaki said the prosecution had mobilised the bailiff of the court to serve Ohiri in Lagos State.

The judge, who said that the court is not a dumping ground for cases, threatened that if the police failed to produce the defendant on the next adjourned date, the case would be struck out.

Justice Omotosho subsequently adjourned the matter until May 26 for Ohiri’s arraignment or for the matter to be struck out.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Wednesday’s proceeding marked the third time the case would be coming up for hearing.

Justice Omotosho had, on April 16, threatened to strike out the charge filed by the police against Ohiri, the sole defendant in the case.

The judge gave the warning following the inability of the prosecution to produce Ohiri in court for arraignment.

The judge then fixed April 24 (Friday) for Ohiri to take her plea.

However, when the case came up on Friday, Madaki, who expressed police inability to serve the defendant, begged the court for another adjourned date.

The police had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/172/2026, preferred a 13 counts bordering on cyberstalking and defamation against Ohiri.

The charge, dated March 31, was filed same day by Madaki from the Directorate of Legal Services, Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.

In count one, Ohiri was alleged to have, on or about Oct. 16, 2023, intentionally transmitted through her TikTok account, a video publication wherein she accused the minister of threatening to kill her if she entered Ebonyi.

The prosecution said the statement, which she knew to be false and of a menacing character, capable of causing fear and reputational injury, is punishable under Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

In count three, the defendant was alleged to have, on or about March 8, 2024, transmitted via her TikTok account, a video alleging that Umahi victimised her for refusing sexual relations and used his office to oppress women.

Count four accused her of publishing via her TikTok account, on or about May 3, 2024, alleging that Umahi tied down her business capital for 10 years due to her refusal of his sexual advances.

The police accused Ohiri in count six of publishing on Sahara Reporters and circulated on social media, on or about March 28, 2025, a statement alleging that Umahi owed her over N200 million for campaign materials which statement she knew to be false.

In count seven, she was alleged to have, on the same date and through the same medium, alleged that non-payment of her mony was a retaliation for refusal of sexual advances, which she knew was false and intended to damage reputation.

Count eight accused her of transmitting via her Facebook page, on or about Feb. 26, a video of a press conference wherein she stated that Umahi threatened to ensure she would “not leave Ebonyi State alive and that he would do to you what happened to the NELAN Engineers.”

The prosecution, in count 10, accused Ohiri of causing her publications to be widely shared, reposted and circulated across social media platforms, thereby amplifying their reach and impact, with intent to cause hatred, ill will and reputational injury, among other counts.

 

EFCC on Tuesday re-arraigned Mr Sirajo Jaja, the Accountant-General (AG), Bauchi State, and a Bureau de Change (BDC) Operator, Aliyu Abubajar, on allegations bordering on money laundering offences to the tune of N1. 63 billion.

Jaja and Abubakar were re-arraigned on a second amended charge before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the five-count charge.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC had, on April 7, 2025, arraigned Jaja, Abubakar and his company, Jasfad Resources Enterprise, as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.

However, the commission had, on June 17, 2025, re-arraigned Abubakar, trading under the name and style of Jasfad Resources Enterprise, as 1st defendant in the amended charge, and named Jaja as 2nd defendant.

Meanwhile, in the second amended charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/101/2025 dated and filed on Jan. 5, Abubakar (trading under the name and style of Jasfad Resources Enterprise) and Jaja were listed as 1st and 2nd defendants.

Upon resumed hearing, Abba Mohammed, SAN, who appeared for EFCC, informed the court that the commission filed a second amended charge on Jan. 5.

He prayed the court for the defendants to take their plea.

But 1st defendant’s lawyer, Gordy Uche, SAN, told the court that he had filed a motion challenging the competence of the charge.

He urged the court to take his motion before the defendants take their plea.

Mohammed disagreed with Uche’s submission.

He argued that the position of the law is that when an amended charge is filed, it takes precedence over other motions, citing Section 396(2) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

Besides, he said the prosecution had a witness in court and that the witness had been coming to court for the third time.

Justice Egwuatu then ordered that the latest charge be read to the defendants to take their plea.

After the not guilty plea, 1st defendant’s lawyer, Gordy Uche, SAN, and 2nd defendant’s counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, applied that their clients should continue with the earlier bail terms and Mohammed did not oppose it.

The judge equally granted the application by the 1st defendant’s lawyer to move his motion challenging the competence of the charge.

Gordy said the motion on notice was dated and filed on Jan. 8.

The lawyer said the motion prayed for an order striking out Counts 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the charge for being incompetent.

Gordy, who argued that these counts were act of duplicity of action, urged the court to strike them out so that the defendants would not suffer double jeopardy.

Chris, who aligned with Gordy’s argument, prayed the court to accede to their application.

But Mohammed disagreed with the defence arguments.

He submitted that the counts focused on different financial transactions with different dates.

He adopted all his processes and urged the court to dismiss the application.

Citing Section 392(2) of ACJA, 2015, the judge reserved ruling on the motion until the end of the trial.

EFCC then called its first prosecution withess (PW-1), Abimbola Williams, a Compliant Officer with United Bank for Africa (UBA).

Williams gave evidence on how multi million naira belonging to Bauchi State was allegedly moved from Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account number: 1018819396, to Jasfad Resources Enterprise account number: 1023444660, domiciled in UBA.

Willians, who said she had been working in the bank for about 20 years, said a letter was received from the anti-graft commission last year that some of their customers were under investigation.

“The request asked for the bank statements of Jaspa Resources account, Bauchi State Sub-Treasury account and this request was received and the documents printed and copies given to EFCC,” she said.

The banker, who said that the documents were certified by her, tendered them through the prosecution and the judge admitted them in evidence and marked them as exhibits.

Although the defence lawyers raised an objection, they said their objection would be sustained in their written addresses.

After Mohammed concluded the evidence-in-chief of the PW-1, Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter until May 12 for continuation of trial.

In count two, Abubakar, trading under the name and style of Jasfad Resources, a purported BDC Operator; Jaja who is Bauchi AG; Abubakar Mohammed Hafiz (at large), Ari Manga (at large) and Muhammed Aminu Bose (at large), between Oct. 29, 2024 and Dec. 31, 2024, were alleged to have committed a money laundering offence.

They were accused of converting the sum of one billion, two hundred and nine million, one hundred and fifty four thousand, three hundred and thirty seven naira, two kobo (N1,209,154,337.2) of public funds belonging to Bauchi State Government which they allegedly transferred from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account domiciled in UBA with account number: 1018819396 into the bank account of Jasfad Resources domiciled in UBA with account number: 1023444660.

In count three, the defendants and others at large were alleged to have, between Jan. 3, 2025 and March 14, 2025, committed money laundering offence.

They were alleged to have converted the sum of four hundred and twenty six million, one hundred and sixteen thousand, thirteen naira, seven kobo (N426,116,013.7) of public funds belonging to Bauchi State Government which they allegedly transferred from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account into the bank account of Jasfad Resources Enterprise.

The offences, the prosecution said, are contrary to Section 18(2)(b) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

 

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday discharged the Nollywood actress, Angela Okorie, and struck out the defamation case filed against her by the police.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, struck out the case after counsel for the police, Victor Okoye, withdrew the charge shortly when the case was called.

Okoye told the court that he had the directive of his office to withdraw the charge pursuant to Section 108 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, parties having resolved the their dispute.

(Nollywood actress, Angela Okorie, with her lawyers shortly after she was discharged of a defamation case at the Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday.)

Okorie’s lawyer, Emerie Onyemelukwe, did not oppose Okoye’s application.

“That is the position my lord,” he said.

Justice Nwite consequently discharged the actress and struck out the charge.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the case stemmed from a petition by actress Mercy Johnson-Okojie.

Against this development, the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police filed a charge against Okorie for allegedly cyberbullying Johnson-Okojie.

The judge had, on Jan. 30, admitted Okorie to a N5 million bail following her re-arraignment on a seven-count charge bordering on cybercrimes.

Okorie was alleged, in the amended charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/278/2025, to have conspired with Ifeoma Mbonu (now at large) to commit cyberstalking and defamation by calling a fellow actress, Johnson- Okojie a blood sucking demon in their posts on their social media platforms of Instagram and Tiktok.”

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s witness, Hassan Dantani, on Friday contradicted himself in the ongoing trial of the Managing Director (MD), SunTrust Bank Ltd, Halima Buba, and her co-defendant, Innocent Mbagwu.

Dantani, the MD of Ashrab Corporate Forex and BDC Ltd, had earlier testified that in the statement he made at the EFCC’s office, he did informed and wrote that his BDC’s licence was revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2024.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that part of the contention is that as at the time the transaction of the $12 million was done by Buba and Mbagwu, the Executive Director/Chief Compliance Officer of SunTrust Bank, the licence of the BDC company used had been revoked by the CBN.

However, while being cross examined by Buba’s lawyer, Johnson Usman, SAN, on Friday on his statement, which the court had admitted as Exhibit D1, Dantani admitted he did not state it in the statement.

Dantani, who is the 3rd prosecution witness (PW-3) in the case, also confirmed to court that he is a member of BDC Traders Association, Wuse Zone 4 in Abuja.

“In the course of the investigation in the case, you made a statement to EFCC. In making the statement, did you tell EFCC that your BDC licence was revoked?” the lawyer asked and the witness said: “Yes, I did.”

Usman then called for Exhibit D1, which is Dantani’s statement.

“Look at Page 48 to 52 of Exhibit D1, is that your statement?” he asked and Dantani responded in the affirmative.

The lawyer then asked the witness to read out the statement which he wrote on May 9, 2025, especially where he said his BDC licence was revoked in 2024 by CBN, to the court’s hearing.

However, after a thorough check of his statement, Dantani said: “I did not see it.”

“Therefore, I will be correct to say you did not state so at EFCC based on Exhibit D1, that your licence has been revoked?” the lawyer asked, and the withess admitted.

The PW-3 also admitted that his company, Ashrab Corporate Forex and BDC Ltd, is still operational and had not been wound up at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

The witness told the court that he did not have any dealing or transaction with Buba and Mbagwu.

He said Suleiman Ciroma, who testified in the case as PW-1, is a BDC operator and a colleague in the business.

The lawyer then asked: “As at the time you sent people to collect USD from SunTrust Bank, did you tell the people that when you go to collect the money, they should tell the person given the money that your BDC licence had been revoked?”

The witness, who admitted that he did not tell those who went to collect the money, said though as at that time, his licence was revoked, he had already reapplied in 2025 and it was still under processing, and that his “deposit of N500 million is still with CBN till today.”

Dantani told the court that neither Buba nor Mbagwu is signatory to any of his companies’ accounts either corporate or personal.

He told the court that he received the sum of 9.947 million dollars by the order of Suleiman Ciroma and that all the monies were paid into his company, Ashrab Energy and Oil Services Ltd.

He said the money was received in dollars while $7 million was collected in cash.

Dantani told the court that the whole money was transferred to Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Ltd, which is owned by the businesswoman, Aisha Achumugu.

He said the money was transferred from Ashrab Energy to Oceangate.

According to him, the decision to transfer the money from Ashrab Energy and Oil Services Ltd was my personal decision.

He said in the transaction, he made a profit of N9.8 million.

While also being criss examined by Mbagwu’s counsel, Mustapha Ibrahim, SAN, the witness also confirmed Exhibit D1 as his statement.

Dantani said the transaction leading to the case took place in March 2025.

He said he could not recall making any other statement at the EFCC’s office apart from Exhibit D1.

The witness also admitted that in the statement he made, he did not mention that he told Ciroma, his colleague, that his BDC licence was revoked.

“Confirm that during the entire transaction, you never physically went to SunTrust Bank office either in Lagos or Abuja to receive US dollars,” the lawyer asked and Dantani responded in affirmative.

The PW-3 agreed that to the best of his knowledge, he complied with CBN’s guidelines, the regulatory agency of the business.

The witness, who agreed that Ciroma was not standing trial in respect of the instant transaction, also told the court that he was not standing trial in any court regarding the transaction either.

Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until April 30 for continuation of trial.

NAN reports that Buba and Mbagwu are being prosecuted on money laundering offences to the tune of $12 million.

The duo, in a six-count charge, was alleged to have aided high-value cash transactions without routing them through a financial institution.

The offence is said to be contrary to Section 21(a), 2(1), and 9(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.

The defendants were, on June 13, arraigned by the anti-graft agency.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts, and admitted to a N100 million bail with one surety, each in like sum.

 

 

 

The Federal High in Abuja on Thursday threatened to strike out a charge filed by the police against a woman, Tracynither Ohiri, who allegedly accused the Minister of Works, David Umahi, of sexual misconduct.

Justice James Omotosho gave the warning following the inability of the prosecution to produce Ohiri in court for arraignment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/172/2026, preferred a 13 counts bordering on cyberstalking and defamation against Ohiri who is the sole defendant in the case.

The charge, dated March 31, was filed same day by Wisdom Madaki from the Directorate of Legal Services, Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.

In count one, Ohiri was alleged to have, on or about Oct. 16, 2023, intentionally transmitted through her TikTok account, a video publication wherein she accused the minister of threatening to kill her if she entered Ebonyi.

The prosecution said the statement, which she knew to be false and of a menacing character, capable of causing fear and reputational injury, is punishable under Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

In count three, the defendant was alleged to have, on or about March 8, 2024, transmitted via her TikTok account, a video alleging that Umahi victimised her for refusing sexual relations and used his office to oppress women.

Count four accused her of publishing via her TikTok account, on or about May 3, 2024, alleging that Umahi tied down her business capital for 10 years due to her refusal of his sexual advances.

The police accused Ohiri in count six of publishing on Sahara Reporters and circulated on social media, on or about March 28, 2025, a statement alleging that Umahi owed her over N200 million for campaign materials which statement she knew to be false.

In count seven, she was alleged to have, on the same date and through the same medium, alleged that non-payment of her mony was a retaliation for refusal of sexual advances, which she knew was false and intended to damage reputation.

Count eight accused her of transmitting via her Facebook page, on or about Feb. 26, a video of a press conference wherein she stated that Umahi threatened to ensure she would “not leave Ebonyi State alive and that he would do to you what happened to the NELAN Engineers.”

The prosecution, in count 10, accused Ohiri of causing her publications to be widely shared, reposted and circulated across social media platforms, thereby amplifying their reach and impact, with intent to cause hatred, ill will and reputational injury, among other counts.

When the case was called for arraignment, neither the defendant nor her lawyer was in court.

Madaki, who appeared for the police, told the court that though the matter was coming up for arraignment, they had been unable to serve the defendant.

“We shall be asking for a date to enable us serve the defendant my lord,” he prayed.

The lawyer begged the court for a long adjournment for them to do the needful.

Justice Omotosho then asked the lawyer: “What effort have you made to serve?”

The judge, who observed that the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) was also not in court, said the court is not a dumping ground.

“If by next week you don’t bring her, I will strike out the case.

“The IPO is not here. How will I know your seriously?”

Although Madaki pleaded for a longer date, the judge refused.

“I will give you till next week. You cannot file a charge and you will abandon it here and the case will be going one year, two years,” the judge said.

Justice Omotosho subsequently adjourned the matter until April 24 for arraignment or for striking out.

 

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday adjourned the alleged N33. 8 billion money laundering case filed by the EFCC against former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, until April 23 for adoption of final written addrsses.

The matter, which was fixed for parties to adopt their written addrsses today before Justice James Omotosho, could not proceed due to the inability of the defence to file their process.

When the case was called for hearing, Femi Atteh, SAN, who appeared for Mamman, informed the court that he had a motion, seeking an extension of time to file their written address.

He said the motion, dated March 31, was filed on April 1.

EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, did not oppose the application.

Oyedepo, however, sought an order deeming the prosecution’s final written address properly filed and served and the judge granted it.

Atteh, who said the EFCC served on him its process two days ago, sought an adjournment to enable him study it and to respond accordingly.

Justice Omotosho then adjourned the matter until April 23 for parties to adopt their final written adddreses.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mamman was appointed minister by the late former President Buhari in August 2019 and was sacked in September 2021.

The EFCC, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024, had preferred a 12-count amended charge against the ex-minister as sole defendant.

The commission, in July 2024, arraigned Mamman on alleged money laundering and conspiracy with officials at the ministry and some private companies to “indirectly convert” the sum of N33.8 billion meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects.

The former minister, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The anti-graft agency, in proving its case, called 17 prosecution witnesses (PWs) and tendered 43 exhibits against the defendant before closing its case.

However, Mamman, through his lawyer, filed a no-case submission on Nov. 19, 2025.

The former minister, who formulated one issue for determination, said the prosecution failed to present credible and reliable evidence before the court to sustain a conviction against him or for him to enter his defence.

Delivering the ruling on Dec. 11, 2025, the judge dismissed Mamman’s no-case submission on the ground that the EFCC had been able to establish a prima facie case against him.

Justice Omotosho held that the evidence tendered was such that the defendant must proffer some explanations or put in a defence to the allegations made against him, especially considering the seriousness of the offences.

The judge, however, said that Mamman was still innocent until proven guilty.

 

 

The Federal Government has secured 386 convictions out of 508 cases against terrorists in a mass trial.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN who confirmed this to newsmen on Friday said that out of a total of 508 defendants brought to court, two were acquitted while eight were discharged.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the trial began on Tuesday in the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The convicts were sentenced to various jail terms ranging from eight years to life imprisonment depending on the gravity of the charges against them.

Fagbemi further explained that the batch of 112 suspects whose cases could not be attended to would be arraigned along with others in the next phase of the mass trial from June 15 to 18.

He said that the mass trial and the imprisonment of the 386 terrorists would serve as a signal to criminals that Nigeria had no tolerance for heinous crimes.

The minister commended the 10 judges of the court for sacrificing their Easter holiday to sit as special courts to handle the cases.

He also said that international bodies including Amnesty International as well as the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), the National Human Rights Commission and some civil society organisations witnessed the proceedings to ensure that due process and transparency was followed.

NAN reports that the trials are part of Phase nine in a series of mass prosecutions intended to tackle insecurity and bring terrorism suspects to justice after prolonged detention.

The Federal Government maintained that prosecuting such cases was essential to weakening insurgent operations and restoring stability in the country.