Tag: EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned Mr Ahmed Dikko, the former Managing Director, Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd (PHRC), on alleged money laundering offences.

Dikko, who was arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 12-count charge, pleaded not guilty.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/360/2026, had named Dikko and Masterpiece Projects & Investment Ltd as 1st and 2nd defendants.

In the charge dated and filed on June 22 by the commission’s counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, the anti-graft agency accused Dikko of using part of the funds to purchase a choiced property in Abuja.

When the case was called, Iheanacho informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the defendants to take their plea and that they were ready to proceed.

Ikechukwu Ajunwa, SAN, did not oppose the application but applied that a non-guilty plea be entered for the 2nd defendant, the company.

After the charge was read to him, Dikko pleaded not guilty to all the 12 counts.

In view of the non-guilty plea, the prosecution lawyer applied for a trial date, which Ajunwa did not oppose but informed the court that a bail application had been filed on behalf of the 1st defendant.

He said a copy of the bail application had also been served on the EFCC.

Iheanacho acknowledged the receipt of the process and told the court that a counter affidavit had equally been filed in opposition to the bail request.

Moving the motion, Ajunwa said it was dated and filed on July 3 in line with Sections 34(4) and 36 of the 1999 Constitution and Sections 158 and 156 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

According to him, the application is seeking for a leave for the defendant to be granted bail.

“The grounds for the application are there my lord,” he said.

The lawyer, who said Dikko would not jump bail or interfere with the trial, said the 1st defendant had been reporting to the EFCC’s office as part of administrative bail terms.

Responding, Iheanacho said the commission, on July 7, filed a counter affidavit to oppose Dikko’s request.

“We rely on all the paragraphs in our counter affidavit in urging the court to deny bail to the defendant.

“We also filed a written submission and adopted same in urging the honourable court to reject the bail application,” he said.

In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that the court has the discretionary power to either grant or not to grant a bail.

He said since bail is a constitutional rights of the defendant, substantial evidence must be placed before the court why the defendant ought to be denied the request.

The judge consequently admitted him to a N150 million bail with one surety in the like sum who must possess a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

He held that the surety must be a responsible citizen and must submit the documents of the landed property which should be verified by the court registrar.

Justice Ekwo, who ordered Dikko to submit his international passport with the court, directed that the defendant must not travel outside the country without the permission of court.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until Oct. 12, Oct. 13 and Oct. 14 for commencement of trial.

NAN observes that in count one, Dikko, the former MD of PHRC, on or about February 2024 in Abuja, did indirectly make cash payment of the dollar equivalent of the sum of N218, 375, 000.00 to one Hadeija Bashir.

It alleged that the money was used for the purchase of Plot 558, Abubakar Umar Street, Katampe Extension, Abuja without passing through a financial institution.

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

In count two, he was alleged to have between Oct. 21st, 2022 and Oct. 25, 2022 in Abuja, indirectly retained in the Fidelity Bank Plc account number: 4020827615, operated by him, the sum of N100 million, being part of the money cumulatively paid to him by Ebenco Global Link Limited, a contractor to PHRC of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL).

“When you knew that the said sum of N100, 000, 000.00 constituted proceed of unlawful activity.”

Count three accused Dikko of indirectly retaining in his GTBank Plc account number: 0047037266, the sum of N90 million between Dec. 7, 2022 and Dec. 19, 2023 in Abuja, being part of the money cumulatively given to him by Ebenco Global Link Limited, a contractor to PHRC of NNPC.

In count five, he was alleged to have, about May 20, 2022 in Abuja, indirectly took control of the sum of N30 million paid to him by Ebenco Enterprises, a business name of a contractor to PHRC, through the GTBank Plc account number: 0158257115, operated by Medinus Mildred Oluba.

In count eight, the defendant was alleged to have, on or about June 26, 2023 in Abuja, disguised the origin of the sum of N 328, 710, 337. 50 (three hundred and twenty-eight million, seven hundred and ten thousand, three hundred and thirty seven naira, fifty kobo).

The money was alleged to have been paid into the GTBank Plc account number: 0123201507, operated by Masterpiece Projects & Investment Limited by OMSA Integrated Services Limited from the transactions involving NNPC Limited allocation of Vacuum Gas Oil for export.

“When you knew that the said sum of N328, 710, 337. 50 constituted proceed of unlawful activity,” the count read in part.

He was also accused of indirectly taken possession of the cumulative sum of N59, 200, 000.00, between August 2023 and January 2024 in Abuja, through his GTBank Plc account number: 0047037266 from the funds paid by OMSA Integrated Services Limited to Masterpiece Projects & Investment Limited.

Count 10 accused Dikko of procuring Ebenezar Oluwagbemiga of Ebenco Global Link Limited to take possession of an aggregate sum of N356, 412, 500.00 on his behalf, between June and January 2023 in Abuja, when he reasonably “ought to have known that the said amount represents proceeds of unlawful activity.”

In count 11, Dikko was said to have, between October 2022 and May 2025 in Abuja, converted “the aggregate sum of $77,080 (seventy seven thousand and eighty United States Dollars) through Ibrahim Isa Yaro.”

The fund was alleged not to form part of his known lawful earning as a former public officer with the NNPCL, formerly Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

In count 12, the defendant was alleged to have, between Dec. 22, 2022 and April 11, 2023 in Abuja, indirectly took control of the cumulative sum of N20 million paid to him by Ebenco Global Link Limited through the GTB Plc account number: 0233656547, operated his son, Ahmed Ahmed Dikko.

The commission alleged that the said sum constituted proceed of unlawful activity and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

An FCT High Court sitting in Maitama on Wednesday awarded a fine of N10 million against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over defamatory comments against Dr Olu Agunloye, former Minister of Power and Steel.

Justice Peter Kekemeke, in a judgment on a rights suit filed by Agunloye through his lawyer, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, dismissed the EFCC’s objections.

Justice Kekemeke agreed with Adedipe’s argument that since the commission published the defamatory statement, the onus to prove the truth about the case rests on the anti-graft agency and had failed to discharge the burden.

The judge, who said the EFCC is not a news agency but an investigative body, held that the commission cannot rely on its statutory obligations to make defamatory statements.

The former minister had, in a writ of summons marked: FCT/HC/CV/1199/2024, filed by Adedipe, alleged that the commission defamed him through a publication it posted on its website.

Agunloye, in the suit, named EFCC as sole defendant.

The plaintiff sought a declaration that the website post made by the defendant on its official website and other allied online platforms, with the caption: “EFCC ARRAIGNS AGUNLOYE OVER $6BILLION FRAUD,” at “https://www.efcc.gov.ng/efcc/news-and-information/news-release/9687-efcc-arraigns-olu-agunlove-for-6billion-fraud,” was false and defamatory.

He sought an order for the commission to, forthwith, retract the defamatory publication against him, and consequently tender unreserved apologies on its official website and allied online platforms, together with two daily newspapers: The Punch and The Guardian.

The ex- minister also sought an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the EFCC, either by itself or through any media (print or online), agents, or privies, from further publishing the said libelous statement about him and from further negatively inferring in any manner whatsoever, against his reputation.

Agunloye, therefore, sought a payment of general and exemplary damages in the sum of N1 billion only, as compensation for the damage to his reputation, which was occasioned by the commission’s online defamatory publication on January 10, 2024.

In his statement of claim, Agunloye, described himself as “76-year-old man, a reputable citizen of Nigeria and pioneer Corps Martial and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps.”

He said he was overwhelmed with telephone calls and visits on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, by concerned friends and associates, over the spurious allegations by the EFCC that he had been involved in a whopping $6 billion fraud in relation to the award by the Federal Government of Nigeria to Messrs Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Ltd regarding the Mambilla Hydro-Electric Power Project.

According to him, the defendant willfully and maliciously published the above defamatory statements on its official website and allied online platforms including Channels TV website, International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) website, Punch Newspapers website, the Cable News website, the Vanguard News, Premium Times Nigeria website, Leadership News website, the Guardians, et al., with circulation in Nigeria and across the globe.

He said so many of his colleagues and associates read the said online publication.

He said the defendant carelessly, maliciously and intentionally published the falsehood agsinst hus person.

He said the online publication falsely referenced the contract sum alleged to have been illegally and fraudulently awarded by him vis-a-vis the Mambilla Hydro-Electric Power Project as $6 billion.

He, however, said that the arithmetic calculation of each sum alleged above to have been corruptly received by him in view of the Mambilla Power Project is #5,221,000 (Five million two hundred and twenty-one thousand naira) only as against the $6 billion the defendant is alleging.

Agunloye said the malicious publication came to him as a rude shock, having been falsely engendered, with the aim of inciting public outrage against him.

He said it is false that he is standing trial for a $6 billion dollar charge as the the counts on the charge, marked: CR/617/23 FRN V. OLU AGUNLOYE, did not bear any connection with the $6 billion dollar allegation.

His words: “This material contradiction shows malicious intent orchestrated to bring the claimant into disrepute.

“These false allegations were also deliberately infused into the media space, to create prejudices against the claimant, the Nigerian Government and also the international community, because of the arbitral proceedings currently going on in France, at the instance of one Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Ltd: in Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited v. Federal Government of Nigeria -ICC Case No: 26260/SPN/AB/CPB before the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris, France.”

But the EFCC, in its counter affidavit, prayed the court to dismiss the suit in its entirty.

Delivering the judgment on Wednesday, Justice Kekemeke agreed with the claimant’s lawyer that the statement was neither fair nor accurate.

The judge stated that the anti-graft agency made the publication knowing the truth that there was no mention of $6 billion dollars in its charge it filed against Agunloye in another court.

The judge, therefore, agreed with the submission that the statement was made maliciously.

He consequently granted all the reliefs sought by Agunloye with a N10 million fine against the N1 billion sought.

In ddition to ordering the retraction and public apology, the court granted a perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC from making further defamatory publications against the former minister.

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday threatened to jail any lawyer, who flouts court’s rules to cause delay in the forfeiture suit filed by the EFCC against 57 properties linked to Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Malami is former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minsiter of Justice.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the warning following a complaint by EFCC lead counsel, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, that some of the lawyers to interested parties deliberately served on him their proceses late to delay proceedings.

When the case was called, Justice Abdulmalik declined to allow lawyers, whose names were not in the cause list, announced appearance for their clients.

The judge, who condemned the act, said it was high time lawyers conducted themselves in line with the rules.

Okutepa, while addressing the court, said the matter was scheduled for today for the hearing of all applications.

“Unfortunately, I came this morning by 8:31am and I received a called from learner silk, J.B. Daudu, SAN, that he is leading his legal team to Appeal Court for time sensitive matter,” he said.

He said Daudu told him that he would be sending a lawyer with a letter to the court.

Okutepa said, truly, he said in the letter that Daudu had a Peoples Democratic Party’s case at the Appeal Court.

He said he expressed his discomfort to his colleague because the suit was filed since January.

He said though the parties were before the court on Feb. 28, some of the lawyers to the interested parties were still serving him their processes up to Tuesday, even after some of them had filed their responses to the court order since January.

“These people filed their processes as far back as January but they didn’t serve me in January, they didn’t serve me in February, March but until April 18,” he said.

Okutepa, who said about 14 of the lawyers served him late, told the court that another lawyer just approached him when in court to serve him with their process.

“We are ministers in the temple of justice my lord and things should be done rightly,” he added.

He described the act as deliberate ploy to delay hearing.

He said the publication of the interim forfeiture order of the 57 properties was done on Jan. 9 as directed by the court and that interested parties were supposed to show cause within 14 days of the order why a final forfeiture order should not be made.

“My lord, we need court guidance,” he said.

The lawyer said though he would not oppose the application for adjournment, he, however, said that so many motions were filed by the respondents to overwhelm them.

“But we will not be overwhelmed,” he said

Justice Abdulmalik then said that a definite date would be given to all parties in the suit to file and serve their processes.

“And anyone who fails to file within time will shoot himself in the foot.

“I will not take any rascallity from any lawyer and if you dare me, I will charge you for contempt, dock and jail you.

“So please let’s do the needful,” the judge warned.

She subsequently adjourned the matter until May 26 for hearing of all applications.

The judge ordered that all the interested parties shall, before April 27, file all their processes and served same on the EFCC lawyer to enable him respond appropriately.

According to her, any process that is served on April 28 should not be received.

“This will mean, you shut yourself out,” the judge said.

Justice Abdulmalik, who ordered EFCC to respond to any process served on it within one week, gave the respondents four days to file their reply as well.

NAN reports that the EFCC had filed a motion on notice for final forfeiture of the 57 properties.

The commission, in the application, filed by its team of lawyers led by Okutepa, SAN, and Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, told Justice Abdulmalik that the respondents had failed to place sufficient evidence before the court to warrant the court to vacate the earlier interim order.

The motion, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026, named the ex-AGF, Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Hajia Bashir Asabe, Abiru’ Rahman Abubakar Malami as 1st to 4th respondents.

Others are Rayhaan Bustan and Agro Allied Ltd, Mountain View Gold and Jewellery Ltd, Amasdul Oil and Gas Ltd, Azbir Arena Nigeria Ltd, Meethaq Hotels Ltd as 5th to 9th respondents.

They also include Rayhaan University Ltd/GTE, Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, Zeenoor Hotels Ltd, Kawsar Ben of Brahim, Alhaji Muktaka Usman Junju, Real Edge Agro Services Ltd as 10th to 15th respondents respectively.

The application was brought pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2006.

The anti-graft agency sought “a final order of this honourable court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the properties described in the schedule below, which were found by the commission as properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”

NAN reports that a sister court, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, had, on Jan. 6, ordered the interim forfeiture of the 57 properties suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities to the Federal Government.

The judge made the order following an ex-parte motion moved by the EFCC’s lawyer, Iheanacho.

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

The case was, however, reassigned to Justice Obiora Egwuatu after the vacation ended but Egwuatu recused himself from the matter, citing personal reasons and in the interest of justice, before it was reassigned to Abdulmalik.

Malami and others had since challenged the anti-graft agency’s civil suit, praying the court to vacate the order.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and a cleric, Mr Nuhu Muhammed, on Wednesday disagreed over the genuine owner of the recently forfeited N70 million Abuja property.

EFCC counsel, Martha Babatunde, prayed Justice James Omotosho to dismiss the motion filed by Muhammed seeking an order setting aside the order of final forfeiture made on Feb. 18.

Muhammed’s lawyer, Mike Enahoro-Ebah, while adopting his processes, told the court that his client was the bonafide owner of the property.

Enahoro-Ebah argued that the cleric’s fundamental right to fair hearing was breached in granting the order.

The lawyer accused the commission of procedural irregularity, concealment of truth and misrepresentation of facts.

He, therefore, urged the court to order the EFCC to release forthwith to his client all the documents seized from him in respect of the property.

But the anti-graft agency’s counsel, Babatunde, vehemently opposed Enahoro-Ebah’s application.

She said the judge, on Feb. 18, made an order for final forfeiture of the property located at No. 12, 5th Avenue, 59 Crescent, Gwarimpa in Abuja, to the Federal Government, after the commission complied with earlier order.

She said the court, on Jan. 13, granted the ex-parte interim order of forfeiture in respect of the property upon the commission’s application.

The lawyer said the order was published on Jan. 23 in a national daily in accordance with the order of the court for any person to show cause why the property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

She said no person approached the court to challenge the interim order within the time frame given by the court.

Babatunde, who described Muhammed’s application as baseless, said the property, comprising one unit of 4 bedroom detached bungalow with pent house and two-room boys quarters, was reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

She, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the cleric’s motion.

Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter until May 28 for ruling.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC had, in the motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2431/2025, sought an order for the final forfeiture of the property.

An EFCC’s investigator, Alozie Andrew, in the affidavit he deposed to, averted that a petition was received from the Anti-Corruption Network regarding the property.

He said on receipt of the petition, it was assigned to his team for discreet investigation.

The investigator said the N70 million used in the purchase of the property was traced to the Kogi State internally Generated Revenue Service (KGIRS).

He said that Sen. Oseni Yakubu, while serving as the Chairman of KGIRS approved payments to Bespoque Business Solutions Ltd to which he was the sole signatory.

Andrew alleged that Yakubu directed that the sum of N70 million he received as kickback from the consultant, be applied to purchase the said property.

The officer averred that the funds, received as a kickback by Yakubu, was paid to EFAB Properties Ltd in two tranches of N25 million and N45 million.

But Muhammed, in the affidavit he deposed to, said Sen. Yakubu was appointed as the chairman of Kogi Internally Generated Revenue Service (KGIRS) as a result of his sincere, earnest and effectual fervent prayers.

The cleric said the appointment was also as a result of separate acts of devotion, costly offerings, sacrifices and obligatory vow fulfilment, all to Yakubu’s acknowledgement and approval.

He said in fulfilling his vow, Yakubu offered to pay him in 2017 for his services and asked how the payment should be effected.

According to him, I opted not to be paid in cash as I feared I would utilise the money for other clients and to solve other problems without having anything to show for it.

“Hence, I informed him of my desire to acquire a landed property in Abuja-FCT particularly from Efab Properties Ltd at their Gwarinpa Estate,” he said.

The Islamic scholar said Yakubu paid for the property and was given to him as a “gift to offset all his outstanding indebtedness to me at that material time.”

But Andrew, in a counter affidavit he deposed to, prayed the court to dismiss Muhammad’s application.

The investigator insisted that contrary to the cleric’s averment, it was Sen. Yakubu who directed the consultant to pay the sum of N70 million to Efab Properties Ltd for the purchase of the subject property using Nuhu Muhammed’s name.

According to him, Exhibit EFCC 5 which is the statement of Senator Yakubu confirms that the senator paid for the property with proceeds of unlawful activity under the instructions of the former Governor, Yahaya Bello.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, adjourned the trial of a man, Moses Oddiri, who allegedly accussed the EFCC’s Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede, of fraud to the tune of N4 billion, until March 25 for hearing.

Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case following an application by Oddiri’s new lawyer, Godwin Ogboji, SAN, seeking an adjournment to enable him study the case file.

Ogboji had told the court upon resumed trial that he had just been brief to take up the case and was yet to meet with his client (defendant) and to study the case file.

The lawyer prayed the court for permission to see the defendant in the DSS custody.

Justice Abdulmalik, however, told Ogboji to do the needful by writing to the security agency in respect of the visit.

E. G. Orubor, who appeared for the prosecution, did not oppose the application for adjournment and the judge adjourned the matter until March 25 for continuation of trial.

The judge also directed the secret police where the defendant is kept to allow his lawyer access to him.

A Department of State Seevices (DSS)’ witness, Yusuf Adams, testified in the last adjourned date against Oddiri.

Adams, the 1st prosecution witness (PW-1), told Justice Abdulmalik how he explored Oddiri’s phone and Facebook page during investigation to discover videos in which the defendant accused Olukoyede.of intercepting and stealing the ₦4 billion released by Heritage Operational Services Limited in favour of the Orogun Community in Delta.

The witness spoke while he was being led in evidence-in-chief by the prosecuting lawyer, Orubor.

The PW-1 added that the team requested receipts, bank statements from First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Zenith Bank, as well as incorporation documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission relating to community development entities operating OML 30 in Delta, including the Orogun Kingdom Community Trust registered by the defendant.

“We also obtained copies of letters of admonishment from the EFCC to a petition submitted by the defendant to the commission.

“The petition written by the defendant accused the EFCC chairman and was addressed to the Serious Fraud Office in the United Kingdom, and a letter written by Wahab Shittu, SAN, counsel to the EFCC chairman, requesting the defendant to retract the allegation.

“We thereafter submitted a preliminary report to our superior,” Adams had said.

Oddiri was arraigned on a two- count charge bordering on cybercrimes and punishable under Section 24(1) of the Cybercrimes ( Prohibition, Prevention, etc) ( Amendment) Act 2024

In count one, Oddiri of Orogun, Ughelli North Local Government Area in Delta, was alleged to have, sometime on or about Sept. 17, 2025, at Surulere, Lagos State, did use his Facebook handle page, Moses Oddiri, to send out a message.

It said the message was titled: “THIS THIEVING EFCC CHAIRMAN OLUKOYEDE, OF OVER 4 BILLION NAIRA OROGUN OIL COMMUNITY FUNDS PAID BY HERITAGE OIL IS ALSO BEING REPORTED TO HERITAGE OWNERS ACROSS THE GLOBE…”

The message, said to be false, was posted for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, insult and injury on the person of Mr Olukoyede “and hereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1) of the Cybercrimes ( Prohibition, Prevention, etc) ( Amendment) Act 2024.”

 By Biola Lawal 

Abuja (FLOWERBUDNEWS):  Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,  EFCC arrested a total of 20 suspects for sundry electoral offences in the just- concluded Federal Capital Territory,  FCT,  local government elections.

EFCC said in a statement by its Spokesman, Dele Oyewale that the suspects were arrested across the FCT,  for offences ranging from vote buying,  vote selling to obstruction of officers to the tune of N17, 218, 700. 00k( Seventeen Million,  Two Hundred and Eighteen Thousand,  Seven Hundred Naira only).

One of the suspects was arrested with a sum of N13,500,000( Thirteen Million,  Five Hundred Thousand Naira) in a car parked beside a polling booth in the Kwali local government area.

Two of the suspects were arrested in Abaji; nine in Gwagwalada;  four in Kuje and the remaining four in Kwali.

The suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations, the statement  said.