Flowerbud News

Tag: Court

  • Alleged $9.7m terrorism financing: Court admits Bauchi Finance commissioner to N100m bail

    Alleged $9.7m terrorism financing: Court admits Bauchi Finance commissioner to N100m bail

     

    The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, admitted Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and his co-defendants to a N100 million bail each in the alleged 9.7 million dollars terrorism financing offences.

    Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling, held that Adamu and his co-defendants had placed sufficient materials before the court for the court to exercise its discretion in their favour judicially and judiciously.

    Justice Umar, who granted the bail applications, directed the defendants to produce two sureties each who must be a permanent secretary and a director in the civil service.

    The judge ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court registry.

    Justice Umar equally ordered Adamu and the three co-defendants to be reporting to the Department of State Services (DSS)’ office in Bauchi State every Monday until the case is determined.

    He adjourned the matter until Feb. 26 for commencement of trial.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had preferred a 10-count terrorism financing and money laundering charge against Adamu and three others.

    The others are Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed, who are 2nd to 4th defendants respectively.

    They are said to be top Bauchi State civil servants.

    Although they were earlier denied bail before Justice Emeka Nwite, who worked as vacation judge in December, the defendants were however, re-arraigned before Justice Umar on Jan. 16 and their bail application moved after the case was re-assigned to the new judge.

    Justice Umar then adjourned the matter until Jan. 21 for ruling on their bail application following their not guilty plea.

    The defendants, through their lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, informed the court in their latest bail application, that though a sister court earlier refused their bail plea, there were new and additional facts upon which the instant application was brought.

    Uche said the sister court would have granted their bail if the new facts were brought to its notice.

    The lawyer argued that Bello Bodejo, the President of Miyettti Allah Kautal Hore, whom the EFCC named n the nine counts of the 10 counts filed against his clients, was never convicted for any terrorism offence by any competent court in the country.

    He argued that though Bodejo was charged by the Federal Government for terrorism-related offences in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/101/2024, the charge was later withdrawn by the government and the court dismissed it on May, 29, 2024.

    Besides, Uche argued that there was no proscription order in the Federal Government’s Official Gazette designating either Bodejo or his organisation as a terrorist or terrorist organisation, backing his argument with Section 48(1) of Terrorism Prevention Act, 2022.

    According to him, since Bello Bodejo has not been shown by the prosecution as a terrorist, there is no basis for the defendants to continue to languish in detention, hence the need for the bail application.

    He further argued that the court is empowered by law to grant bail, citing relevant sections of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, to back his submission.

    NAN reports that Adamu, who is a former manager of a branch of Polaris Bank Plc in Bauchi State, and others were earlier arraigned on Dec. 31, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to the counts read to them before Justice Nwite.

    The judge, on Jan. 5, declined to grant their bail application on the grounds that the offences with which they are charged with, threatens national security and public safety.

    Justice Nwite, who ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre until the determination of the case, fixed Jan. 13 for commencement of trial.

    However, on Jan. 13, Justice Nwite returned the case file back to the chief judge (CJ) for reassignment after the vacation had ended.

    The charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025, was dated and filed Dec. 30 by EFCC’s lawyer, Samuel Chime.

    In count one, Adamu, Sirajo Jaja (while being Accountant-General of Bauchi State, now at large}, Samaila Irmiya Liman (now at large}, Balarabe Ilelah, Aminu Bose and Kabiru Mohammed (all being civil servants and signatories to Bauchi State Government’s accounts and/or payment instruments) were alleged to have committed the offence sometime between Jan. 2024 and May 2024.

    They were alleged to have conspired to provide funds in the aggregate sum of 2,300,000.000 U.S. dollars in cash for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him, pursuant to approvals granted by Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.

    The said funds were alleged to be used, in whole or in part, to finance a terrorist or terrorist group.

    The offence is contrary to Section 26(1) and punishable under Section 21(2)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

     

    Details later

  • River Park dispute: Court strikes out case against Ghanaian investors, lawyer

    River Park dispute: Court strikes out case against Ghanaian investors, lawyer

     

     

    An Abuja High Court, on Tuesday, struck out the criminal charge filed against Ghanaian investors and owners of JonahCapital Ltd over the River Park Estate dispute.

    Justice Modupe-Osho Adebiyi struck out the matter after the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, withdrew the charges.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Police Force had, on June, 25, 2025, filed a 26-count criminal charge against directors of JonahCapital Ltd.

    The police, in the charge, named Sam Jonah, Kojo Ansah, Victor Quainoo, Mobus Property Nigeria Ltd, a company, and their Nigerian lawyer, Abu Arome, as defendants.

    The defendants were alleged to have forged documents of the company to claim its owbership.

    When the matter was called, AGF’s lawyer, Aishatu Kalthungo, informed the court that she was instructed to discontinue the matter relying on the powers in Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution.

    Kalthungo, an Assistant State Counsel, said she had the directive based on an application dated Dec. 30, 2025, and filed on Jan. 2, 2026.

    After the lawyer’s application was not opposed by the defendants’ counsel, Justice Adebiyi said, “the case is hereby struck out.”

    NAN recalls that the AGF, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, was reported to have, on Dec. 30, 2025, dismissed allegations of forgery, fraudulent activities against the Ghanaian investors and their Nigerian lawyer.

    The development was said to be the basis for the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)’s unlawful expropriation of their shares to former shareholders of the company.

    Consequently, the AGF directed the CAC to immediately rescind all administrative measures taken on the basis of the report of the IGP Monitoring Unit of the Nigerian police.

    He also advised the commission “to refrain from taking any action that will undermine the authority and integrity of the courts.”

  • N1.5 billion Fraud; Edo Court Convicts, Jails Man – One Year

    N1.5 billion Fraud; Edo Court Convicts, Jails Man – One Year

     

    – Or N5 Million Fine

     

     

    The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,  EFCC,  on Monday January 19, 2026 secured the conviction and sentence of Ojo Eghosa Kingsley before Justice W. I. Aziegbemhin of Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City.

    Kingsley was prosecuted by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCc,  on one-count charge bordering on stealing by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commission. The convict,  while being a customer of First Bank fraudulently took possession of  over N1.5 billion erroneously credited to his account by the bank.

    This was disclosed in a statement by EFCC Spokesman, Dele Oyewale, a copy of which was made available to FLOWERBUDNEWS.

    The charge against him reads: ‘That you OJO EGHOSA KINGSLEY (M) sometime between June, 2025 to November, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this honorable Court did steal the aggregate sum of N1,507,502,182.24  (One Billion, Five Hundred and Seven Million, Five Hundred and Two Thousand, One Hundred and Eighty Two Naira, Twenty Four Kobo), property of First Bank Plc by fraudulently converting the said sum to your own use, and thereby committed an offence contrary to contrary to Section 387(1) of Criminal Code Law of Edo State Law, 2022 and punishable under Section 394 of the same Law.’

    The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him, prompting the prosecution counsel, M. S. Dahiru to pray the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.

    However, counsel to the defendant pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that the defendant had become remorseful for his action.

    Justice Aziegbemhin convicted and sentenced Ojo Eghosa Kingsley to one year imprisonment or a fine of N5 million.

    The court ordered the convict to restitute First Bank Plc with the sum N272, 252,193,59 (Two Hundred and Seventy Two Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Two Thousand, One Hundred and Ninety Three Naira, Fifty Nine Kobo) within a stipulated period of time being the balance of the N1.5 billion.

    The EFCC had during investigation recovered the sum of N802,420,000 from various bank accounts traced to the defendant,  his mother and sister which was handed over to the bank by the Ag Zonal Director of the Benin Zonal Directorate,  Deputy Commander of the EFCC, DCE Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad  on Monday January 12, 2026 while over three hundred million was recovered from the defendant account by the bank through transfer reversal.   Aside the restitution, conviction and sentence, the defendant undertook in writing to be of good behaviour going forward.

  • Alleged $13m fraud: Court rules on EFCC’s final forfeiture request against Aisha Achimugu’s company

    Alleged $13m fraud: Court rules on EFCC’s final forfeiture request against Aisha Achimugu’s company

     

     

    The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, fixed March 25 for ruling on an application filed by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for final forfeiture order on $13 million linked to Aisha Achimugu’s Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd.

    Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date after EFCC’S lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, and counsel for the company, Darlington Ozurumba, adopted their processes and presented their arguments for and against the case on Monday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Nwite had, on Aug. 22, 2025, granted the anti-graft agency’s motion ex-parte for an interim order forfeiting the sum of $13 million linked to Oceangate Ltd to the Federal Government over allegations that the fund was a proceed of unlawful activity.

    The judge then directed the commission to publish the order in a national daily for interested person(s) to show cause.within 14 days why the fund would not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    In an affidavit in support of the motion, the EFCC’s investigator, Usman Aliyu, deposed that the commission received a credible intelligence report alleging that a company known as Oceangate Engineering Limited, without following due process, used funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity to acquire oil blocks from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

    Aliyu said their investigation revealed that Oceangate, a limited liability company, was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on Feb. 25, 2005 with number: RC 617736.

    He said in 2024, Oceangate participated in an oil block licensing bid for deep offshore PPL302 and shallow water- PPL 3007.

    He said upon completion of technical and commercial bid, NUPRC notified the company of its winning bidder status and the condition precedent to be fulfilled before issuance of a licence to the company.

    Aliyu said it was discovered that the total financial obligations of Oceangate Ltd to the government before the issuance of the Petroleum Prospecting License (PPL) to the company was $37, 223,144.00.

    He said the company, through its Zenith Bank account number: 5074678281, at different installments, transfered millions of dollars to the Federal Government, including $1.1 million, $1.1 million, $3.8 million, $1.2 million, $3.05 million, $2.1 million, and $500, 000.

    The investigator said that on March 27 and 28, 2025, Providus Bank Limited, acting for and on behalf of Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited, transferred the total sum of $7 million to the Federal Government.

    He said his team recovered the evidence of these transactions through Providus Bank Limited from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) vide a letter dated June 24,02025.

    He said the company between March 20, 2025 and April 3, 2025, paid the total sum of $20 million to the Federal Government for the acquisition of the PPL 302 and PPL 3007.

    The officer alleged that.to fulfil the requirements for payments of the signature bonuses for PPL 302 and PPL 3007, Oceangate conspired with some unlicensed Bureau de Change (BDC).operators and bank officials to retain and transfer funds totalling $13 million which funds are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.

    “That one Suleiman Muhammed Chiroma was procured and aided by Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited to collect through his associates in cash and without going through a financial institution, both in Abuja and Lagos the total sum of $13,000,000.00.

    “That whilst acting in concert with Oceangate Limited, Muhammed Chiroma engaged one Dantani Abubakar Hassan of Ashrab Energy and Oil Services Limited and one Tirmizi Muhammed Usman of Tripple A & Tee Oil Nigeria Limited, to collect the said $9 million in cash and without going through a financial Institution for the sole purpose of using same to pay for the signature bonuses of the two oil blocks allocated to Oceangate Oil and Gas Limited.”

    He alleged that the company equally procured Chiroma, Tirmizi Usman and Dantani Hassan to receive funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities from different contractors with the Lagos State Government.

    He said to receive and retain funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity from different contractors with Lagos State, Dantani Abubakar used his company, Ashrab Energy and Oil Services Limited, with account number 1229255048 domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc.

    “That whilst still working in concert with Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited and Suleiman Chiroma, Dantani Abubakar used his company, Ashrab Energy and Oil Services Limited with account Number 1907084038 domiciled in Access Bank Plc to receive and retain the total sum of N855, 057, 560.00 from different contractors executing contracts for and on behalf of the Lagos State Government which sum reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.”

    He said the combine sum of N2, 455, 651, 560.00 received in both Zenith and Access Bank accounts of Ashrab Energy were converted to US dollars and subsequently transferred same to Oceangate’s Zenith Bank account for onward payment for the signature bonus of the two oil blocks; PPL 302 and PPL 3007 allocated to the company, among other averments.

    Aliyu insisted that the $13 million used by Oceangate to pay for the Signature Bonuses in respect of PPL302 and PPL3007 were not proceeds of any lawful and legitimate business of Oceangate but rather represent funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.

    According to him, part of the funds used by Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited to pay for the Signature bonuses in respect of PPL 302 & PPL 3007 was derived from the huge sum of money transferred by the Lagos State Government to the contractors for the execution of contracts for the benefit of the state.

    The investigator alleged that there were never any contractual or business relationships between Oceangate and the contractors who transferred the aforementioned public funds to the account of the company (Oceangate Engineering).

    He said the contractors, who transferred the aforementioned public funds to Oceangate, were neither investors, directors, nor shareholders in Oceangate.

    Aliyu, who said he made the deposition in good faith, said it would be in the interest of justice and public policy to grant the application.

    But Oceangate, in its affidavit to show cause deposed to by one of the company’s directors, Iliya Wakil, said it came to his knowledge that the court made an order of interim forfeiture of the company’s $13 million used to pay for the signature bonuses of Deep Offshore PPL 302 and Shallow Water PPL 3007 between March 20, 2025 and April 3, 2025.

    Wakil prayed the court not to make the order of final forfeiture of the funds because all the funds were derived partly from legitimate earnings of the company and partly gifts given to the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Company, Dr Aisha Achimugu.

    He disagreed that the company did not. conspire with any unregistered BDC operator and bank officials to retain and transfer the sum or any sum of money whatsoever which had anything to do with unlawful activity.

    He argued that Suleiman Chiroma referred to by the EFCC, in its application for interim forfeiture, is a licensed BDC agent engaged lawfully by the company fo help it source the US dollars needed by the company to settle the signature bonuses of PPL 302 and PPL 3007 oil blocks respectively as same was required to be paid in dollars by the Nigerian Government.

    He stated that Chiroma acted fully independently and without any form of control by Oceangate Limited.

    The director said the company did not know Dantani Hassan or the company known as Ashrab Energy and Oil Services Limited.

    Besides, he said Oceangate did not know one Tirmizi Usman and Tripple A & Tee Oil Nigeria Limited, adding that the company had never met, dealt with or transacted with any of the persons statéd in paragraphs 15 and 16 of the EFCC’s affidavit in any manner and for.any reason whatsoever.

    He said Oceangate only relied fully and depended on the avowed expertise of
    Chiroma, a licensed: BDC agent and believed that he followed the due process to source all the funds remitted to the company for the purpose of settling the signature bonuses as stated.

    He said the entire naira swapped for the dollars came from legitimate sources, attaching the audited accounts of the company as exhibits.

    Oceangate, in a motion on notice filed with the affidavit to show cause, sought an order setting aside the order of interim forfeiture of the $13 million which it claimed belong to it.

    The company argued that the order was made by the court without requisite jurisdiction and against the principle of fair hearing.

    But EFCC, in its reply to affidavit to show cause filed by Oceangate, prayed the court to dismiss the application.

    Aliyu, who also deposed to the affidavit on behalf of the commission, said they found that Iliya Wakil, who deposed to Oceangate’s affidavit to show cause, was a mere nominal director with no shareholding status of the company.

    Besides, the investigator said Wakil was an employee of Felak Concept Group Limited, also owned by Achimugu, and incorporated on May 5, 2000.

    He said Wakil admitted, in his extrajudicial statement to his team on April 15, 2025, that he had worked with Felak Concept from 2000 to date and had held so many positions, “among which are Manager Admin, General Manager Admin and Finance and presently Group General Manager Admin and Finance.’

    He said Wakil also stated that he had consistently drawn his monthly salary from his known employer Felak Concept and WishWhich Koncept Limited.

    He argued that there was no record of Wakil drawing salary from Oceangate.

    Besides, the officer said Wakil admitted in his extra judicial statement that he got all his instructions from Achimugu, the GCEO, and he, in turn gave same instructions to Chiroma via telephone conversation.

    Aliyu described Oceangate as “a briefcase/shell company created as a vehicle for the purpose of holding petroleum related assets procured with funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.”

    He said, “Hence, describing the company as ‘a professional oll and gas consortium, operating in diverse sectors of the oil and gas sectors of the Nigerian economy,’ is nothing but describing the devil as an angel of light.”

    He alleged that the modus operandi of Oceangate is to acquire “petroleum-related assets with tainted funds.”

    The officer said the $13 million forfeited in the interim by the court to the Federal Government was not proceeds of any lawful, legitimate, provable, known and justifiable income of the company.

    Aliyu also averred that Oceangate equally procured an auditor, Godwin Ukah, to prepare an audit report which was attached to its affidavit to show cause as exhibit.

    He said Ukah was invited to the EFCC’s office after which he volunteered his extra judicial statement and admitted that he did not see the various account statements of Oceangate when he prepared the audit report.

    Besides, he said Ukah admitted that Oceangate had not actively earned from oil and gas exploration.

    He said Ukah, who prepared the audit report attached as exhibit relied solely on a memorandum of understanding and not the financial books of Oceangate.

    Aliyu said his team also invited Aisha Achimugu, the GCEO of Oceangate and she volunteered her extra-judicial statement.

    According to him, she (Achimugu) admitted in her extra-judicial statement that she has the most significant control of Oceangate Oil and Gas Limited.

    He said the businesswoman equally admitted that; ‘Oceangate Oil & Gas Limited does not do contract for now nor has it carried out any contract either in private or public sector’.

    The investigator told the court that it would be in the interest of justice to forfeit the $13 million to the Federal Government, same having been reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.

    NAN reports that Justice Nwite had, on Sept. 15, 2025, ordered the final forfeiture of $7 million lodged in Providus Bank branch in Ikoyi, Lagos State but recovered by the EFCC, after nobody had come forward to claim the funds.

    A company, Felak Concept Group Limited, later issued a statement to dismiss reports linking its GCEO, Achimugu, and its subsidiary, Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Ltd, to the controversial $7 million cash transaction allegedly tied to Providus Bank.

  • BREAKING: Abuja Court arraigns Popular Senator for ‘Raping’ 13 Year Old Girl

    BREAKING: Abuja Court arraigns Popular Senator for ‘Raping’ 13 Year Old Girl

     

    The High Court Of The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Sitting In Gwagwalada Has Arraigned A Former Senator Representing Adamawa North, Ishaku Elisha Abbo, Over Allegations Of Rape Involving A 13-Year-Old Schoolgirl.

    Abbo And A Second Defendant Were Brought Before The Court On Wednesday In A Criminal Matter Filed By The Inspector General Of Police (IGP). Both Defendants Pleaded Not Guilty To All Counts.

    The Case, Charge No: CR/635/25, Titled Inspector General Of Police V. Senator Ishaku Elisha Abbo & Anor, Is Being Heard Before Justice I. Mohammed In Court 50 Of The FCT High Court, Gwagwalada.

    When Proceedings Commenced, The Court Confirmed That The Matter Was Properly Constituted And That All Parties Were Present.

    Counsel Appearances Were Announced With J. B. Anzaku Representing The Prosecution, While M. J. Numa (SAN) Appeared For Abbo. Sunusi Musa (SAN) Represented The Second Defendant.

    Two Other Lawyers, K. O. Otumala And Dahiru Ibrahim, Were Present To Watch Brief For The Nominal Complainant, But The Arrangement Immediately Drew An Objection From Abbo’s Legal Team.

    Abbo’s Counsel Challenged The Propriety Of “Watching Brief” In A Superior Court Of Record, Urging The Judge Not To Recognise Their Appearance.

    Justice Mohammed, However, Cautioned The Defence Against Escalating What He Described As A Minor Issue, Directing Counsel To Provide Judicial Authorities In Support Of The Objection. The Judge Added That The Appearance Could Be Struck Out If The Authorities Were Convincing.

    Despite The Objection, The Court Continued With The Arraignment As The Charges Were Read To Both Defendants In Open Court.

    Following Their Not Guilty Pleas, Counsel For The Two Defendants Informed The Court That Bail Applications Had Been Filed And Sought Permission To Move Them.

    The Court Granted The Request, After Which Abbo’s Counsel Argued His Bail Application. The Prosecution Filed A Counter-Affidavit In Response, Though It Did Not Oppose The Application. Defence Counsel, However, Raised Concerns Over What He Termed Late Service Of The Counter-Affidavit.

    The Second Defendant’s Bail Application Was Also Moved, With The Prosecution Similarly Responding Through A Counter-Affidavit.

    After Considering Arguments From Both Sides, Justice Mohammed Stood The Matter Down Briefly To Prepare Rulings. On Resumption, The Court Granted Bail To Both Defendants With Conditions.

    Abbo Was Granted Bail In The Sum Of ₦50 Million, With Two Sureties Of Good Repute, And Was Ordered To Surrender His International Passport. The Second Defendant Was Granted Bail In The Sum Of ₦40 Million, Also With Two Sureties Of Good Repute.

    The Case Was Adjourned To February 11, 2026, For Hearing.

    The Arraignment Follows Earlier Reports That The Nigeria Police Filed Multiple Charges Against The Former Lawmaker, Relating To Allegations Of Rape And Sexual Assault Involving A Minor. Investigators Reportedly Concluded There Was Sufficient Basis For The Matter To Be Tested In Court.

    Abbo Represented Adamawa North Senatorial District Until He Lost His Seat After An Appellate Court Decision In October 2023.

  • Owo church attack victim identifies 2 suspected terrorists in open court

    Owo church attack victim identifies 2 suspected terrorists in open court

     

    One of the victims of the June 5, 2022 terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, on Tuesday, identified two of the five defendants as those who took part in the attack.

    The victim and a Department of State Services (DSS)’ witness, simply tagged as “SSB” for security reasons, told Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja while being led in evidence by the DSS lawyer, Adedayo Adedipe, SAN.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the DSS is prosecuting Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25 years), Al Qasim Idris (20 years), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26 years), Abdulhaleem Idris (25 years) and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47 years) as 1st to 5th defendants respectively in the alleged terrorism offences..

    SSB, who is the 2nd prosecution witness (PW-2), said he is a member of the church and was present on the day of the attack.

    The witness chronicled details of how the attack took place and the extent of damages recorded both to worshipers and the church building.

    When Adedipe asked the PW-2 if he could recognised the attackers of the church from the defendants in the dock, he responded in affirmative.

    The witness, thereafter, identified Qasim Idris (2nd defendant) and Abdulhaleem Idris (4th defendant) as those he saw among the attackers.

    He said the attack took place on Sunday when the church was about rounding off the mass held in commemoration of the Feast of the Pentecost.

    “We were having our normal mass in the church, just about the time the church was closing, we heard a gun shot outside the church compound.

    “So, we were wondering what was happening.

    “We heard another gun shot at the gate, then there was pandemonium in the church.

    “Everybody was running helter skelter and asking what was happening.

    “Then we started hearing sporadic shooting inside the church compound.

    “One of the MOD (Men of Order and Defence) of the church ran towards the church and shouted, ‘lock the door, lock the door.’ Then, those by the door tried to lock the door.

    “Then, we heard some sound at the door. And then, we started hearing foot steps of people running towards the other entrance of the church. They were shooting as well.

    “In a matter of seconds, I saw one man holding a gun.

    “He looked at the church, up and down, then he used his hand to beckon on someone behind him to come forward,” the witness said.

    When asked if he could recognise the man who was holding a gun and beckoning on another of the attackers to come forward, the witness said he could.

    When asked to tell the court if the person was among the defendants, the witness pointed at the fifth defendant (Momoh Otuho Abubakar), who shouted in protest.

    At that point, Adedipe asked Abubakar, who was wearing a nose mask, to remove it, following which the judge, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered the defendant to move closer to the defendants in the dock so that he could see them properly.

    When he moved closer to the defendants, the witness then changed his mind and said the actual person with a gun and beckoning on another person to come was the 2nd defendant (Al Qasim Idris).

    Defence lawyer, Abdullahi Mohammad raised an objection to the sudden change of mind by the witness, arguing among others, that having earlier claimed that the 5th defendant was the person he saw, he could no longer change his mind and pick another person since he had not told the court that he had problem with his sight.

    Although Adedipe responded by making counter arguments, Justice Nwite overruled the defence lawyer’s objection and held that what Mohammad should concentrate on was how to discredit the witness during cross-examination.

    When the witness resumed his testimony, he gave further details of how the attack went and identified the 4th defendant (Abdulhaleem Idris) as one of the attackers.

    The witness said: “At that time, another man emerged with gun and started shooting at the choir gallery, while the first person, that beckoned on the second person, started shooting at the people at the lector’s seat.

    “So, as they were doing that, later we heard a sound of explosive, there was the second explosive again and the third one.

    “At that time when I heard the third explosive, I became very afraid and fell on my face to the ground. Then, I heard the fourth explosive.

    “Then, I raised up my eyes, I now saw three people. The third one was black in complexion and putting a bag across his shoulder.

    “He now examined the church by looking at us. And, hoping that everybody has been killed, he now made a sign as if to say, let us go.

    “From then, we did not hear any gun shot again.”

    When asked by Adedipe if he could recognise any of the two attackers beside the 2nd defendant, the witness responded in affirmative.

    He again moved closer to the defendants in the dock and said: “The person, who threw the explosives, I cannot identify.

    “But the person, who was beckoned at and the one who carried the bag when they were about going I can identify them.”

    He then identified the 4th defendant (Abdulhaleem Idris) as the one who carried the bag while the attackers were about leaving the church premises after the attack.

    SSB, however, said he could not identify the person, who joined the 2nd defendant in shooting, among the defendants.

    He said after the attackers left the church premises, he and other church members waited for some minutes after which he raised his head when he could no longer hear any gun shot.

    “I now raised up my head again and saw two people standing up and trying to run away from the church.

    “The two people who were trying to run away from the church were members of the church,” he said.

    He said when he stood up, he jumped through the window by his side, adding that when he landed outside he saw the dead body of a woman beside a car and another dead body of a man, beside the fence, near the Oba’s palace.

    When asked the number of those killed in the attack, the witness said it was more than 40 while many other were injured.

    According to him, apart from the people that died, there were other many casualties.

    “By the time I came back from the hospital, in the afternoon of that day, the whole hospital was filled up with casualties of the attack, among whom were people, whose legs were amputated.

    “After the day of the incident, I visited the church on the second day. The church was badly damaged as a result of the explosions and gun shots. And the whole church was filled up with blood everywhere,” hr narrated.

    The PW-2 said he was invited by the DSS to its Akure office in Ondo State during investigation into the incident where he made a statement, a copy of which he identified when Adedipe showed it to him.

    The court later admitted it in evidence.

    Under cross-examination by Mohammad, the witness said the 1st prosecution witness in the case was a priest of the church who officiated on the day of the attack.

    The witness, who said he normally sits around the second row in the church, told the court that out of the four doors in the church building, only the main one was locked.

    He said the person, who first came in with a gun came in from the door beside the choir stand.

    The DSS also called its 3rd prosecution witness (PW-3), a female, who was identified as “SSC.”

    She said she is from Anambra and gave details of how she escaped with injuries sustained on her left leg.

    The witness, who said she was also in church during the attack, said she was confused and did not immediately know what to do when she heard the first round of gun shots.

    Led in evidence by Adedipe, the PW-3 said: “I was confused and did not know what was happening until an old woman sitting beside me was killed.

    “I was still confused and seated down when the choir president came from the choir gallery and grab me up and we ran towards the alter.

    “At the alter, I met brother Chinedu Ojukwu, who helped me to lie down on the floor.

    “And, we were all lying down when the unknown gun men climbed to the alter and asked us, ‘do you know why we are doing this?’

    “I raised up my head and looked at him. I did not see him because of the fear in me.

    “But, he thought I saw him and he said, ‘you that are looking at me, you will die immediately.’

    “And he dropped the dynamite beside my head and he left.

    “Brother Chinedu was the one who asked me to shift and while sighting, I never knew that my left leg was not yet removed from the dynamite and the dynamite exploded and my left leg was damaged with wounds,” she said.

    When asked if she had any evidence to show to the court that her left leg was damaged, she walked off the witness box and showed the court her left leg which was damaged as a result of the explosive device that she said was dropped by one of the attackers beside her inside the church hall.

    SSC added: “While I was being taken to the hospital, I met my younger cousin brother dead. He was just two years. He was shot at the back of his head

    “There after, I was rushed to the hospital by the Reverend Father, brother Chinedu and Chucks.

    “When I got to the hospital, I met our CYON President and I asked about my mother and my siblings from him and he said they are fine.

    “I was still anxious to see my mother and some minutes later, my mother arrived at the hospital.

    “She could not recognise me because of the injury and the dust from the dynamite made me dark.

    “She could only recognise me with my clothes.

    “She finally met me and asked her colleagues to come and assist me.

    “And my father bought everything needed for the treatment that day.”

    On what the medical personnel who attended to her did to keep the wounds on her leg at the state it currently is, the witness said the affected leg was operated on four times.

    She said she was also skin grafted to cover the open wounds, adding that presently, there is an iron inside the leg.

    The witness, who said she is still on medication, told the court that she made statement on May 26, 2024 when she was invited to the DSS office in Akure.

    She said 41 people died instantly from the attack, while over 100 were injured.

    Under cross-examination by Mohammad, SSB said she came about the number of those killed in the attack from the figure printed on an obituary magazine that was printed on the day of their burial, which stated that 41 people died.

    After the PW-3 concluded her testimony, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until Jan. 14 at 12noon for continuation of trial.

  • Leadership dispute: Court to hear Turaki-led PDP motion for stay in Wike-led PDP’s suit

    Leadership dispute: Court to hear Turaki-led PDP motion for stay in Wike-led PDP’s suit

     

     

    The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, fixed Jan. 23 for hearing of the application for stay of further proceedings filed by the Kabiru Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against a suit instituted by a faction of the party in the camp of the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.

    Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to allow counsel for plaintiffs, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, respond to the motion for stay.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Wike-led PDP and its acting National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, alongside Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, the factional National Secretary, had filed the suit.

    The plaintiffs, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2501/2025, had sought an order of injunction, restraining the Turaki-led leadership (5th to 25 defendants) from parading themselves as representatives of the PDP in any capacity whatsoever.

    They also prayed the court to stop the police and Department of State Services (DSS) from allowing Turaki-led leadership access to the party’s national secretariat at Wadara Plaza in Abuja.

    Besides, they sought an order of injunction, restraining the the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting any other office address or any other address from the Turaki-led leadership as the PDP’s office address other than as already contained in the commission’s records, among other reliefs.

    The plaintiffs prayed the court to declare that INEC, police and the DSS are constitutionally bound to enforce and give full effect to the decisions of the Federal High Court in the judgments and ruling delivered by Justice James Omotosho and Justice Peter Lifu.

    Justice Abdulmalik had earlier granted an ex-parte motion brought by the plaintiffs directing parties not to take any action pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

    Following the order, the Turaki-led PDP challenged the decision at the Court of Appeal.

    They also filed an application for the court to stay proceedings in the suit pending the decision of the Appeal Court.

    The Turaki-led leadership, through their lawyer, equally filed a motion on notice asking Justice Abdulmalik to recuse herself from the case.

    They argued that there exists a reasonable and well-founded apprehension of likelihood of bias against them in the manner the suit had been handled by the judge.

    NAN reports that Justice Abdulmalik had, on Dec. 5, 2025, adjourned the matter to Jan. 14 to allow parties regularised their processes and for hearing of all pending applications and the substantive suit.

    When the case was called on Wednesday, lawyer to the plaintiffs, Ikpeazu, informed the court that on the last adjourned date, the court ruled that all pending applications would be taken together with the substantive case.

    He said they were ready to proceed.

    But Chief Chris Uche, SAN, who appeared for the Turaki-led leadership of the PDP, informed the court that on Dec. 5 when the matter came up, they drew the attention of the judge to the motion for recusal, asking her to withdraw from the case.

    The lawyer said the court then adjourned the matter for the plaintiffs to respond to their motion.

    Uche said though Justice Abdulmalik made an order pending their motion for recusal, they had filed an appeal against the order.

    “We filed an appeal against my lord’s decision and we have a duty to report to your lordship that, that appeal has now been entered in Court of Appeal numbered: CA/ABJ/CV/1770/2025.

    “We have also filed an affidavit of facts of entering of the appeal in order to bring to your knowledge the entry of the appeal.

    “Records have been fully transmitted and the plaintiffs are very much aware and have taken steps to filed processes in the appeal,” he said.

    Uche, who said the processes were already before the court, added that a motion for stay of further proceedings in the suit pending the appeal had also been filed.

    According to him, it is trite and beyond dispute that once an appeal has been entered, the trial court is ceased to take further proceedings or further hearing in the suit.

    He cited a 2021 case of Secondus vs. Ibaochi Alex to back his argument

    He, therefore, prayed the court to stay proceedings pending the determination of their appeal and urged the court to adjourn the matter sine die (indefinitely).

    Responding, Ikpeazu admitted that though an appeal had been filed, the lawyer argued that an appeal in a matter does not automatically translate into a stay of execution or proceedings.

    He argued that in determining whether or not to proceed, the nature of the appeal is utmost relevant.

    “By virtue of Order 4, Rules 11(2) of the Court of Appeal rules, Sub. 1 provides for a basis for the application they have just made but Sub. 2 limits the scope of the Sub. 1,” he said quoting the section.

    He argued that a stay cannot be granted if an appeal does not affect the subject matter of the suit.

    “The bottom line is the appeal is against the interlocutory decision of my lord,” he said, arguing that the court has the inherent power to made an order for parties to stay action while the subject matter is determined.

    Ikpeazu further stated that based on the rules of the Federal High Court (FHC), the judge had done rightly by the order.

    Besides, he submitted that the defence had not filed any application to set aside the ruling.

    He, therefore, urged the court to proceed with the proceedings, having earlier made order to take all the pending applications.

    But Justice Abdulmalik asked Ikpeazu if he had been served with the application for stay and he responded that they were only served the previous day.

    “We were served very late yesterday my lord,” he said.

    He said he could respond to the application on points of law.

    But the judge held that Ikpeazu should filed a formal application in response to the motion for stay.

    Justice Abdulmalik consequently adjourned the matter until Jan. 23 for hearing of the application for an order staying further proceedings in the suit.

    The Turaki-led leadership of the party, in the motion on notice filed by Uche, had prayed the judge to withdraw from the suit and remit the case file to the chief judge (CJ) for re-assignment to another judge for determination on its merit.

    Giving twelve grounds while their application should be considered, Uche argued that the right to fair hearing is constitutionally guaranteed under Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), including the right to an impartial tribunal.

    The senior lawyer said the 5th to 25th defendants/applicants, in the motion, had formally petitioned the CJ of FHC, requesting that no case concerning the internal affairs or disputes of PDP be assigned to Justice Abdulmalik and two other judges of the Abuja judicial division due to past antecedents and perceived partisanship in similar matters.

    According to Uche, the suit which was filed only on Nov. 21, 2025, got its way into His Lordship’s court and on Nov. 25, 2025, the judge made an ex-parte against the defendants in a format and template that was curious and in alliance with the format and template utilised by Hon. Justice Omotosho of the same court against the defendants.

    He said while giving the impression on paper that the prayers in the motion were being refused, yet the judge granted even more far-reaching orders against the defendants in fact, which similarity and pattern exceed coincidence.

    Uche said the orders made ex-parte by the judge when there was no real urgency touched directly on and determined the main substance of the suit at such a preliminary and interim stage.

  • Alleged certificate forgery: Court to hear UNN’s objection in ex-minister’s suit

    Alleged certificate forgery: Court to hear UNN’s objection in ex-minister’s suit

     

     

    The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, fixed Feb. 26 for hearing of the preliminary objection filed by the University of Nigeria, Nsuka (UNN) against a suit instituted by the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji.

    Justice Hauwa Yilwa fixed the date to allow the 3rd to 7th defendants, through their counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, served the preliminary objection on the 1st and 2nd defendants who were not represented in court.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 1st and 2nd defendants in the suit are Minister of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC).

    The UNN had jointly filed the preliminary objection alongside its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, the Registrar of UNN; a former acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oguenjiofor Ujam; and the Senate of the university who are 3rd to 7th respondents respectively.

    They had prayed the court to strike out the ex-minister’s suit for being statute barred.

    They also urged Justice Yilwa to strike out the motion on notice for prerogative writs for being incompetent and wrongly commenced.

    NAN reports that Nnaji had filed the suit
    following allegations of certificate forgery levelled against him.

    The former minister, in an ex-parte motion, had sought an order granting him leave to issue prerogative writs prohibiting the university and its officials from “tampering with” or continuing to “tamper with” his academic records, among others.

    Nnaji, in the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025, sued the Minister of Education, the NUC, UNN and Ortuanya as 1st to 4th respondents.

    He also joined the Registrar of UNN; Ujam and the Senate of the university as 5th to 7th respondents respectively.

    He sought the leave to issue a prerogative writ of mandamus compelling the university and its officials to release his academic transcript to him, and asked the Minister of Education and the NUC to exercise their supervisory powers to compel UNN to do so.

    He equally sought an interim injunction restraining UNN and its officials from “tampering” with his academic records pending the determination of the substantive suit, among others.

    But in their preliminary objection, they prayed the court to strike out the suit for want of jurisdiction.

    They also sought an order awarding substantial costs in favour of the 3rd, 4th and 6th defendants.

    In a nine-ground of argument, they said the motion ex-parte for leave was not filed within three three months of the occurrence of the subject matter.

    They argued that this was contrary to Order 34 Rule 4(1) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and Section 2 (a) of the Public Officers Protection Act 2004, which rendered the entire proceedings incompetent and rob this court of jurisdiction.

    “The substantive motion for prerogative orders was wrongly brought by motion on notice instead of an originating motion as required under Order 34Rule 5 (1) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019.

    “The application is incompetent, premature, speculative there being no prior request or denial of release of academic records or any evidence of interference with the applicant’s academic records prior to the commencement of this action,” they said.

    They equally argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain “matters concerning student academic records, examinations, results and transcripts.

    They argue that the matter is not proceedings arising from the administration or management of any agency within the exclusive jurisdiction in Section 251(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

    They also argued that internal remedy has not been exhausted and the applicants’ fundamental rights has not been breached.

    Besides, they said no reasonable cause of action was disclosed against the 3rd to 7th respondents, particularly the 4th respondent, Prof. Ortuanya, who acted solely in his official capacity as VC of UNN, among others.

    When the case was called on Tuesday, Uche who appeared for the 3rd to 7th defendants, said the matter was to hear their objections.

    Although Nnaji’s counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, acknowledged the receipt of the preliminary objection, there was no proof of service of such in the court record to show that the 1st and 2nd defendants had been served.

    Justice Yilwa then adjourned the matter until Feb. 26 and ordered that the Minister of Education and NUC, who are 1st and 2nd defendants, be served with the process.

  • Court orders interim forfeiture of 57 property belonging

    Court orders interim forfeiture of 57 property belonging

     

     

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 property suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities linked to Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, to the Federal Government.

    Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order following an ex-parte motion moved by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, to the effect.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the multi-billion naira landed property are located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna States.

    Although the order was made on Tuesday, its certified true copy (CTC) was sighted by NAN on Wednesday.

    “It is hereby ordered that an interim order of this honourable court is hereby made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the properties described in Schedule 1 below which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities,” the judge said.

    Justice Nwite, in the ruling, also directed the publication of the interim order of forfeiture in any national daily “inviting any person(s) or body (ies) who may have interest in the properties listed in the schedule to show cause, within 14 days of the publication, why a final order of forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria of the said assets and properties, should not be made.”

    The judge then adjourned the matter until Jan. 37 for report of compliance.

    The assets include:

    **Luxury Duplex at Amazon Street, Plot No. 3011 Within Cadastral Zone, A06 Maitama; File No: AN enhancement 11352, which was purchased in December 2022 at N500, 000, 000.00 (value after enhancement at N5, 950, 000, 000);

    **Two Winged Large Storey Building Situate at No. 3, Onitsha Crescent, Area 11,Garki, Cadastral Zone, A03, Abuja (formerly Harmonia Hotels Limited), FCT, which was purchased Dec. 2018 at N7, 000, 000, 000.00.

    **Plot 683, Jabi District, Cadastral Zone B04, Comprising of a five storey Building (Now Luxurious Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Jabi with 53 rooms/suites), which was purchased in Sept. 2020 at carcass level at N850, 000, 000. 00 with additional N300, 000, 000 to take possession (value after completion N8, 400, 000, 000).

    **Property No. 3130 within Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, FCT, Abuja, Comprising of Terraces, purchased in Jan. 2021 at N360, 000, 000.00.

    **Property No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja (MEETHAQ HOTELS LTD, MAITAMA WITH 15 ROOMS), which was purchased on in Feb. 2018 at N430, 000, 000.00 (current value after rehabilitation is N12, 950, 000, 000).

    **Plot No. 1241B, Asokoro District Zone (NO. 11A YAKUBU GOWON CRESCENT) ASOKORO DISTRICT, which was purchased July 2021 at N325, 000, 000.00.

    **SHOP NO. C82 CITISCAPE — SHARIFF PLAZA, PLOT 739 CADASTRAL ZONE A07, AMINU KANO CRESCENT, WUSE Il, FCT, ABUJA, which was purchased in March 2024 at N120, 000, 000.00.

    **NO. 4 AHMADU BELLO WAY, NASARAWA GRA, KANO, which was purchased in Dec. 2022 at N300, 000, 000. 00

    **PLOT 157, LAMIDO CRESCENT, NASARAWA, GRA, KANO, purchased in July 2019 with no specific amount stated.

    **A PLAZA, COMMERCIAL TOILETS, LAUNDERING, WAREHOUSE TANKS ADJACENT TO BIRNIN KEBBI MARKET, which was purchased in 2021 at N100, 000, 000.00.

    **100 HECTARES OF LAND ALONG BRININ KEBBI, JEGA ROAD, which was purchased in 2020 at N100, 000, 000.00.

    ** 4 BEDROOM BUNGALOW GESSE PHASE, BIRNIN KEBBI, which was purchased in 2023 at N101, 000, 000.00.

    ** SHOPS NOS. A36, B3 VEGAS MALL, WUSE 2, ABUJA, which was purchased in July 2023 at N158, 000, 000.00.

    **NO. 26, BABBI DRIVE, BUA ESTATE, ABUJA, purchased in 2022 at N136, 000, 000.00.

    **NO. 27, EFAB ESTATES AVENUE, 59™ CRESCENT, GWARIMPA, ABUJA, purchased in Jan. 2016 at N120, 000, 000.00.

    **4 BEDROOM/ 2 ROOMS BOYS QUARTERS AT NO. 10B, DOKA CRESCENT ABAKPA GRA, KADUNA, purchased in Jan. 2018 at N40, 000, 000.00.

    **PLOT NO. 13, IPENT 7 ESTATE, KARSANA DISTRICT, ABUJA, purchased in June 2018 at N85, 000, 000.00.

    **A BEDROOM DUPLEX & BOYS QUARTERS AT NO. 12 YALINGA STREET, OFF ADETOKUNBO ADEMOLA CRESCENT, WUSE Il, ABUJA, purchased in Oct. 2018 at N150, 000, 000.00.

    **TWO WAREHOUSE SHOPS B40 AND B46, WUSE MARKET, ABUJA, purchased in July 2020 at N50, 000, 000.00.

    **TWIN HOUSES AT ZONE E, APO LEGISLATIVE QUARTERS, CADASTRAL ZONE B01, PLOT 14014, GUDU DISTRICT, ABUJA, it was purchased between Feb and May 2017 at N250, 000, 000.00.

    **Properties acquired by Khadimiyya for Justice & Development Initiative at the Academic Garden City, Birnin Kebbi, sold by the Federal Housing Authority Mortgage namely:
    Nine units of three bedroom, bungalow, three units of two bedroom, bungalow, and 5.4 hectares of land, which were purchased between Feb. 2023 and Sept. 2023 at N187, 000, 000.00, among other assets listed in the schedule.

    NAN reports that Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz are currently facing alleged N8.7 billion money laundering charge before Justice Nwite.

    The EFCC had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, named the ex-minister, Asabe, his wife and an employee of a firm linked to the former minister, Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, and his son as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.

    The anti-graft agency, in the 16 counts, accused the defendants of carrying out various suspicious transactions and attempting to conceal the unlawful origin of billions of naira through bank accounts and property acquisitions across Abuja, Kano and Kebbi.

    They allegedly committed the offences between 2015 and 2025, a period that includes the eight years Malami served as the AGF during the late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    The commission alleged that Malami, his son, and Asabe conspired to disguise the origin of funds, acquire property 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.

    In count one, the EFCC alleged that between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami and his son directed Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over N1 billion (N1,014,848,500) in a Sterling Bank account, knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.

    to Malami

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 property suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities linked to Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, to the Federal Government.

    Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order following an ex-parte motion moved by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, to the effect.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the multi-billion naira landed property are located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna States.

    Although the order was made on Tuesday, its certified true copy (CTC) was sighted by NAN on Wednesday.

    “It is hereby ordered that an interim order of this honourable court is hereby made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the properties described in Schedule 1 below which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities,” the judge said.

    Justice Nwite, in the ruling, also directed the publication of the interim order of forfeiture in any national daily “inviting any person(s) or body (ies) who may have interest in the properties listed in the schedule to show cause, within 14 days of the publication, why a final order of forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria of the said assets and properties, should not be made.”

    The judge then adjourned the matter until Jan. 37 for report of compliance.

    The assets include:

    **Luxury Duplex at Amazon Street, Plot No. 3011 Within Cadastral Zone, A06 Maitama; File No: AN enhancement 11352, which was purchased in December 2022 at N500, 000, 000.00 (value after enhancement at N5, 950, 000, 000);

    **Two Winged Large Storey Building Situate at No. 3, Onitsha Crescent, Area 11,Garki, Cadastral Zone, A03, Abuja (formerly Harmonia Hotels Limited), FCT, which was purchased Dec. 2018 at N7, 000, 000, 000.00.

    **Plot 683, Jabi District, Cadastral Zone B04, Comprising of a five storey Building (Now Luxurious Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Jabi with 53 rooms/suites), which was purchased in Sept. 2020 at carcass level at N850, 000, 000. 00 with additional N300, 000, 000 to take possession (value after completion N8, 400, 000, 000).

    **Property No. 3130 within Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, FCT, Abuja, Comprising of Terraces, purchased in Jan. 2021 at N360, 000, 000.00.

    **Property No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja (MEETHAQ HOTELS LTD, MAITAMA WITH 15 ROOMS), which was purchased on in Feb. 2018 at N430, 000, 000.00 (current value after rehabilitation is N12, 950, 000, 000).

    **Plot No. 1241B, Asokoro District Zone (NO. 11A YAKUBU GOWON CRESCENT) ASOKORO DISTRICT, which was purchased July 2021 at N325, 000, 000.00.

    **SHOP NO. C82 CITISCAPE — SHARIFF PLAZA, PLOT 739 CADASTRAL ZONE A07, AMINU KANO CRESCENT, WUSE Il, FCT, ABUJA, which was purchased in March 2024 at N120, 000, 000.00.

    **NO. 4 AHMADU BELLO WAY, NASARAWA GRA, KANO, which was purchased in Dec. 2022 at N300, 000, 000. 00

    **PLOT 157, LAMIDO CRESCENT, NASARAWA, GRA, KANO, purchased in July 2019 with no specific amount stated.

    **A PLAZA, COMMERCIAL TOILETS, LAUNDERING, WAREHOUSE TANKS ADJACENT TO BIRNIN KEBBI MARKET, which was purchased in 2021 at N100, 000, 000.00.

    **100 HECTARES OF LAND ALONG BRININ KEBBI, JEGA ROAD, which was purchased in 2020 at N100, 000, 000.00.

    ** 4 BEDROOM BUNGALOW GESSE PHASE, BIRNIN KEBBI, which was purchased in 2023 at N101, 000, 000.00.

    ** SHOPS NOS. A36, B3 VEGAS MALL, WUSE 2, ABUJA, which was purchased in July 2023 at N158, 000, 000.00.

    **NO. 26, BABBI DRIVE, BUA ESTATE, ABUJA, purchased in 2022 at N136, 000, 000.00.

    **NO. 27, EFAB ESTATES AVENUE, 59™ CRESCENT, GWARIMPA, ABUJA, purchased in Jan. 2016 at N120, 000, 000.00.

    **4 BEDROOM/ 2 ROOMS BOYS QUARTERS AT NO. 10B, DOKA CRESCENT ABAKPA GRA, KADUNA, purchased in Jan. 2018 at N40, 000, 000.00.

    **PLOT NO. 13, IPENT 7 ESTATE, KARSANA DISTRICT, ABUJA, purchased in June 2018 at N85, 000, 000.00.

    **A BEDROOM DUPLEX & BOYS QUARTERS AT NO. 12 YALINGA STREET, OFF ADETOKUNBO ADEMOLA CRESCENT, WUSE Il, ABUJA, purchased in Oct. 2018 at N150, 000, 000.00.

    **TWO WAREHOUSE SHOPS B40 AND B46, WUSE MARKET, ABUJA, purchased in July 2020 at N50, 000, 000.00.

    **TWIN HOUSES AT ZONE E, APO LEGISLATIVE QUARTERS, CADASTRAL ZONE B01, PLOT 14014, GUDU DISTRICT, ABUJA, it was purchased between Feb and May 2017 at N250, 000, 000.00.

    **Properties acquired by Khadimiyya for Justice & Development Initiative at the Academic Garden City, Birnin Kebbi, sold by the Federal Housing Authority Mortgage namely:
    Nine units of three bedroom, bungalow, three units of two bedroom, bungalow, and 5.4 hectares of land, which were purchased between Feb. 2023 and Sept. 2023 at N187, 000, 000.00, among other assets listed in the schedule.

    NAN reports that Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz are currently facing alleged N8.7 billion money laundering charge before Justice Nwite.

    The EFCC had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, named the ex-minister, Asabe, his wife and an employee of a firm linked to the former minister, Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, and his son as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.

    The anti-graft agency, in the 16 counts, accused the defendants of carrying out various suspicious transactions and attempting to conceal the unlawful origin of billions of naira through bank accounts and property acquisitions across Abuja, Kano and Kebbi.

    They allegedly committed the offences between 2015 and 2025, a period that includes the eight years Malami served as the AGF during the late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    The commission alleged that Malami, his son, and Asabe conspired to disguise the origin of funds, acquire property 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.

    In count one, the EFCC alleged that between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami and his son directed Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over N1 billion (N1,014,848,500) in a Sterling Bank account, knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.