Flowerbud News

Tag: EFCC

  • Court threatens to jail erring lawyers in EFCC’s forfeiture case against Malami

    Court threatens to jail erring lawyers in EFCC’s forfeiture case against Malami

     

    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.

  • EFCC, cleric disagree over forfeited N70m Abuja house as court adjourns for ruling

    EFCC, cleric disagree over forfeited N70m Abuja house as court adjourns for ruling

     

    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.

  • EFCC, cleric disagree over forfeited N70m Abuja house as court adjourns for ruling

     

    EFCC, cleric disagree over forfeited N70m Abuja house as court adjourns for ruling

    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.

  • Court adjourns trial of man who allegedly defamed EFCC chairman until March 25

    Court adjourns trial of man who allegedly defamed EFCC chairman until March 25

     

    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.”

  • EFCC Arrests 20 for Suspected Electoral Fraud in FCT Council Polls 

    EFCC Arrests 20 for Suspected Electoral Fraud in FCT Council Polls 

     

     

     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.

     

     

  • EFCC Arraigns Husband, Wife, Two Companies for N740m Investment Fraud

     

     

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned the Chief Executive Officer of Onome Global Market Resources Limited and Lexicon Multi-concept Media Limited, Osabohein Alex Ologbose, alongside his wife Hope Onome Oghelemu  before Justice Ekerete Akpan of the Federal High Court sitting in  Abuja.

     

    Other defendants in the matter are; Onome Global Market Resources Limited and Lexicon Multi-concept Media Limited, Dele Oyewale, EFCC Head,  Media & Publicity, disclosed in a statement.

    They were arraigned on a seven-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, conversion of funds and money laundering to the tune of about N740million  contrary to Section 18(2)(b) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and punishment under Section 18(4) of the same Act.

    At the point of arraignment,  prosecution counsel,  O.S. Ujam informed the court that the prosecution  filed amended charges  before the court on  January 28 ,2026,  and prayed  the court  to read the same to the defendant.

    Count one of the amended-charge reads: “That you Osabohien Alex Ologbosele, sometimes between January 2023 and April 2024, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, directly took possession of the aggregate sum of N340, 000,000(Three Hundred and Forty Million Naira ) paid into your account with account number 202277 3919 domiciled in Kuda Microfinance Bank Limited, from the account of Hope Onome Ogbholemu with account number, 0827261710  domiciled in Access Bank PLc, when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum formed part of the proceeds of unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(20(a) of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition)Act 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”

     

    Another count reads; “That you Osabohien Alex Ologbosele, sometimes between January 2023 and April 2024, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, directly used the aggregate sum of N24,100,000(Twenty Four Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira) paid into your account with account number 2022773919 domiciled in Kuda Microfinance  Bank Limited from the account of Hope Onoe Ogbhelemu with account number 0827261710 domiciled in Access Bank Plc, to establish and operate a music and photo studio located at Crowther Plaza, Gudu District, Abuja, when you knew or ought to reasonably ought to have known that the said sum formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering(Prevention and Prohibition)Act 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.

    In view of the “not guilty” plea of the defendants,  Ujam prayed the court  for a date for commencement of trial.  Defence counsel, Marshal Abubakar,  also prayed the court to allow the first defendant to continue with an  administrative bail granted by the court, while also  pleading that the court grant the third defendant bail for nursing a one year- old baby.

    In his ruling,   Justice Ekerete denied the third defendant bail,  but allowed  the first defendant to continue enjoying the administrative bail granted by the court. The judge further remanded the third defendant in Suleja Correctional Centre while adjourning the matter for definite hearing to April 27, 2026.

    Investigation by the EFCC revealed how the defendants induced various innocent citizens to pay various sums of money into the account of Hope Onome Oghelemu and Onome Global Market Resources Limited, on the false pretence that the monies were for investment for the procurement and exportation of bags of bitter kola and red kolanut to Hong Kong, China and Indonesia after which they would be paid their Return on Investment (ROI).

    Further investigation revealed that investors were not paid their ROI  and their investment sums were not refunded.

     

     

     

  • We didn’t coerce Ali Bello to write that property purchased was for ex-Kogi governor–EFCC investigator

    We didn’t coerce Ali Bello to write that property purchased was for ex-Kogi governor–EFCC investigator

     

    Yazid Bawa, an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s investigator, on Tuesday, said that his team did not enforce Ali Bello, a nephew of former Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, to write in his extra-judicial statement that the property he purchased was on behalf of the ex-governor.

    Bawa, who is the 2nd prosecution witness (PW-2) in the ongoing trial-within-trial, told Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja, while being cross-examined by Bello’s counsel, Abubakar Aliyu, SAN.

    The anti-graft agency is prosecuting Ali Bello (1st defendant) and Daudu Sulaiman (2nd defendant) on alleged money laundering to the tune of N10 billion.

    The charges relate to alleged unlawful activities during the tenure of ex-Gov. Bello, who is also facing two different charges bordering on alleged money laundering at the FHC and FCT High Court.

    However, on Monday while Ahmed Abukakar, an investigator and the PW-17 in the main trial was being led in evidence by the EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the defence counsel raised an objection to Oyedepo’s plan to tender the eight extra-judicial statements made by Bello and Sulaiman during investigation, as evidence in the case.

    Bello’s lawyer, Abubakar Aliyu, SAN, and Olusegun Jolaawo, SAN, who is representing Sulaiman, had argued that their clients made the statements involuntarily.

    While Aliyu argued that the six statements made by Bello, who is also the current Chief of Staff (CoS) to Kogi State government, were made under duress, Jolaawo submitted that Sulaiman was threatened to make the two statements the prosecution sought to tender.

    The Kogi’s CoS was said to have made those statements on Nov. 29, 2022; Nov. 30, 2022; Dec. 1, 2022; Dec. 10, 2022; Dec. 11, 2022 and Dec. 12, 2022, respectively, while Sulaiman made the two statements on Nov. 30, 2022 and Dec. 1, 2022.

    After taking the counsel’s arguments on Monday, Justice Omotosho ordered a trial-within-trial and directed Abubakar, who is PW-17, to give evidence as PW-1 in the trial-within-trial.

    The PW-1 vehemently denied the allegations.

    At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the EFCC lawyer called two more witnesses; Yazid Bawa and Adamu Usman Yusuf, to give their testimonies.

    While Bawa (PW-2) was a member of the team, Yusuf told the court that he led the team called Chairman’s Monitoring Unit in Lagos office that interrogated the defendants.

    The witnesses, led in evidence by Oyedepo, also debunked the defendants’ allegations that they were coerced to make the statements.

    They told the court that the statements were taken voluntarily, in the presence of the defendants’ lawyers, and without threats or inducements.

    While Bawa, the PW-2, was being led in evidence by Oyedepo, the witness said: “I am an operative of EFCC. I investigate cases, I interview suspects, gather my evidence and come to court to give evidence.”

    The witness, who said he is currently with Economic Governance and Crime Section of the commission in Lagos, said before then, he was with Chairman’s Monitoring Unit in Lagos Office.

    Bawa, who denied threatening the defendants, also dismissed the allegations that he threatened to keep them in detention if they failed to write the statements in the manner prescribed by the team.

    “During the course of our investigation, we interview suspects. What we do is that we don’t ask them questions but we put forward our findings to them and ask them to respond according,” he said

    The PW-2 said he neither have power to detain nor release a suspect.

    According to him, that power is not vested in me.

    “We didn’t threaten the defendants. We only put forward our findings and asked them to respond to those findings,” he said.

    Speaking on the six statements made by Bello, tagged “Exhibits TWT-A to A5,” the witness insisted that those statements were taken voluntarily.

    “The defendants were cautioned. We put forward the cautionary words and read to them and made sure the defendants understood it.

    “It is part of our tradition that we allowed the defendant with his lawyer. So all these statements were taken in the presence of his lawyer,” he said.

    The witness also said that on Nov. 29, 2022, when Bello chronicled his biography in his statement without the presence of his lawyer that he was not forced to do so.

    He said Bello was asked if he would like to proceed to write the statement without his lawyer and he agreed to do so.

    According to him the Chairman’s Monitoring Unit is a well selected unit.

    “We are carefully selected to ensure that there is no mistake in the work. So we don’t induce, we don’t threaten at all,” he responded.

    Under cross-examination, Aliyu, who appeared for Bello, asked the witness if he knew that his client was arrested on Nov. 29, 2022, and he said: “I cannot remember.”

    “However, if you look at the statement, you realised that he made his statement on 29th November, 2022?” the lawyer asked, and the witness responded in affirmative.

    “Was he in custody then or you released him on bail?” he asked.

    “He was in our custody,” the witness responded.

    When the lawyer asked the witness that as at the time Bello made the statement of Nov. 29, 2022, there was no lawyer with him, the PW-2 responded in affirmative

    The lawyer also asked the witness on questions relating to the duration of time his client took to write each of the six statements.

    “Is it not true that you told the 1st defendant to say that the property he purchased was for Yahaya Bello or else he will rot in detention?” Aliyu asked and the witness simply said: ‘That is not true my lord.”

    “Can you produce before my lord the court order that authorise you to detain him beyond the lawful time,” Aliyu asked.

    “I don’t have the order,” the witness responded.

    “You told the defendant he would rot here otherwise he did what you wanted?” the lawyer asked and the witness responded in the negative.

    When Aliyu asked Bawa if there were video recordings of the interview sessions, the witness also responded in the negative.

    Jolaawo, who appeared for Sulaiman, also cross-examined Bawa.

    He asked Bawa to tell the court how the EFCC got Sulaiman involved in the case.

    The witness said: “During the investigation that was assigned to my team, concerning the former governor of Kogi State, our investigation led to the 2nd defendant.”

    When the lawyer asked the witness if Sulaiman was either invited or arrested, he said: “I cannot remember.”

    He also said he could not remember when Sulaiman wrote the statement of Nov. 30, 2022, and that he could also not remember when he was released from custody.

    “But did you remember that the 2nd defendant brought food for the 1st defendant and you now arrested him?” Jolaawo asked and the witness said: “I don’t t know.”

    “You are wearing a smart wrist watch and you have smart phone?” he asked and the witness responded in affirmative.

    And when the lawyer asked if these were used to record the interview sessions, Bawa responded in the negative.

    The PW-2 said a lawyer, Z.E. Abbas, was always around when Sulaiman wrote the statements.

    When the witness was asked if the team threatened Sulaiman with an electric chair, he said: “Neither myself nor Mr Adamu threatened the defendant with electric chair. In fact, I have never seen one.”

    Adamu Yusuf, who is the head of the team in Lagos office, also gave his evidence and the defence lawyers cross-examined him as well.

    Justice Omotosho then adjourned the matter until Feb. 18 for Bello and Sulaiman to open and close their defence in the trial-within-trial.

  • EFCC investigator denies obtaining Kogi CoS, others’ statements under duress

    EFCC investigator denies obtaining Kogi CoS, others’ statements under duress

     

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s investigator, on Monday, denied the allegations that the exra-judicial statements of Ali Bello, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to Kogi State government, and his co-defendant in the ongoing trial, were made under duress.

    The EFCC’s investigator, Ahmed Abubakar, who is the 1st prosecution witness (PW-1) in the trial-within-trial of the defendants, told Justice James Omotosho while being led in evidence by the EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while Daudu Sulaiman is the 2nd defendant, Ali Bello, the nephew of former Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, is the 1st defendant in the alleged N10 billion money laundering trial.

    The duo, through their lawyers, Abubakar Aliyu, SAN, and Olusegun Jolaawo, SAN, had, on Monday, objected to the tendering of the eight statements they allegedly made voluntarily by Oyedepo as exhibits.

    While Aliyu, who appeared for Bello, insisted that the six statements made by his client were not made voluntarily, Jolaawo, counsel for Sulaiman, equally told the court that his client was threatened by the commission’s operatives who took his client’s two statements.

    However, the EFCC’s lawyer disagreed with the defence submissions.

    The development occurred when Oyedepo sought to tender the six extra-judicial statements made by Bello and the two statements made by Suleiman as exhibits when leading Abubakar in evidence-in-chief as PW-17.

    The Kogi’s CoS was said to have made those statements on Nov. 29, 2022; Nov. 30, 2022; Dec. 1, 2022; Dec. 10, 2022; Dec. 11, 2022 and Dec. 12, 2022, respectively, while Sulaiman made the two statements on Nov. 30, 2022 and Dec. 1, 2022.

    After taking the counsel’s arguments, Justice Omotosho ordered a trial-within-trial and directed Abubakar, who is PW-17, to give evidence as PW-1 in the trial-within-trial.

    The witness told the court that a member of his team, Yazid Bawa, and the team leader, Adamu Usman Yusuf, neither threatened the defendants while their statements were taken nor attempted to induce them.

    He admitted that Bello was given a cautionary word notice which was signed by the defendant himself before he began to write the statement he made on Nov. 29, 2022.

    When Oyedepo asked the witness to read out the cautionary word in the open court, the PW-1, while reading the document, said Bello admitted that he was told to oblige his lawyer before making the statement but that he chose to write in the absence of his lawyer.

    However, Aliyu raised an objection against Oyedepo, leading the witness to read the document but the lawyer later dropped his objection after the judge’s intervention.

    When Oyedepo asked the PW-1 if Bello was threatened, he said: “Yazid and Adamu did not threaten the defendant in my presence.”

    The witness said the allegations by the 2nd defendant (Sulaiman) that he did not make his statements in accordance with the commission’s prescription under the law and that he was threatened to be forced to sit on an electric chair if he failed to make statements were false.

    “I am hearing this for the first time. We don’t have any electric chair in the EFCC’s office that can electrocute someone.

    “And no suspect has ever died of electrocution in the EFCC before,” the witness said.

    The PW-1 also told the court that Sulaiman’s lawyer, Z.E. Abbas, endorsed all the pages of the statement the defendant made and that Abbas also used the words, “This statement was taken voluntarily in my presence,” in his endorsement.

    After Oyedepo led the witness in evidence in the trial-within-trial, the defence lawyers cross-examined him and Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter until Feb. 17 for continuation of trial-within-trial.

  • Alleged $9.7m terrorism financing: Bauchi Finance commissioner, co-defendants arraigned, remanded

    Alleged $9.7m terrorism financing: Bauchi Finance commissioner, co-defendants arraigned, remanded

     

     

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, arraigned Yakubu Adamu, Commissioner of Finance, Bauchi State, and his co-defendants on alleged $9.7 million terrorism financing.

    They were arraigned on a 10-count charge before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    Adamu, the 1st defendant, was arraigned alongside Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed, who are 2nd to 4th defendants respectively.

    The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts preferred against them by the anti-graft agency.

    Following their non-guilty plea, EFCC’s lawyer, Samuel Chime, sought a trial date to enable them present their witnesses and evidence in the case.

    The defence counsel, Gordy Uche, SAN, however, informed the court of separate motions for bail filed on behalf of the defendants.

    He said the motions, filed on Dec. 30, had been served on the prosecution.

    Chime, who acknowledged the receipt of the bail applications, said a joint counter affidavit had been filed to oppose the request.

    When the judge asked if the facts in the motions were the same, the defence lawyer explained that all the facts were the same except the averment that the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants came voluntarily on their own accord to honour the EFCC’s invitation.

    “The 1st defendant was arrested,” he added.

    Justice Nwite then directed Uche to move his motions.

    Moving the motion, the lawyer said the application sought an order of the court admitting the defendants to bail pending the trial.

    He said it was attached with four exhibits.

    He said after the prosecution served them with a counter affidavit, a further affidavit was also filed.

    Uche said in their reply on points of law to the counter affidavit, there was no where in the proof of evidence that aligned with those conditions stated in Section 162 of Administration of. Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

    He said the prosecution’s proof of evidence did not specifically linked his clients to the offence of terrorism financing as alleged.

    He urged the court to appreciate the circumstances and exercise its discretion in favour of the defendants.

    “My lord, do not be carried away by the nature of the charge.

    “I urge you to give it a liberal view and grant them bail on liberal terms,” he said.

    The lawyer restated that the continued detention of Adamu had affected about 60, 0000 Bauchi State’s workers who were yet to be paid their salaries.

    Responding, the EFCC’s counsel said a counter affidavit was filed to oppose the application for bail.

    Chime prayed the court to refuse their bail applications bearing in mind Paragraphs 15 and 16 of the commission’s counter affidavit.

    In Paragraph 15 of the counter affidavit, the EFCC argued that it firmly opposed to the grant of bail to the defendants having regard to the terrorism-related allegations, the money laundering counts, and the magnitude of the sums stated on the face of the charge.

    “That the 1st defendant/applicant (Adamu) is also facing another pending criminal charge bordering on money laundering at the Federal High Court, Abuja in Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/694/2025.”

    Justice Nwite, who adjourned the matter until Jan. 5 for ruling, ordered that the defendants to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the decision.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025, was dated and filed Dec. 30 by 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.

    In count three, Adamu, Jaja (now at large), Liman (now at large), Ilelah, Bose, Mohammed (all being civil servants and signatories to Bauchi State Government’s accounts and/or payment instruments) were alleged to have, sometime between Jan. 2024 and May 2024, committed the offence.

    They were accused of involving in an arrangement which resulted in the sum of about 500,000.00 U.S. dollars being delivered in cash to Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him for the purpose of terrorism and for the benefit of a proscribed terrorist group pursuant to approvals granted by Gov. Bala Mohammed.

    The offence is contrary to Section 21(3)(b) and punishable under Section 21(4)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

    Count four accused the defendants, including Jaja and Liman (who are at large) to have conspired to disguise the origin of the 2, 300, 000. 00 U.S. dollars, being Bauchi State Government’s funds, routed through Bureau de Change (BDC) operators and other nominees and converting same to U.S. dollars, for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him.

    It said this was pursuant to approvals granted by Gov. Mohammed, having reasonable grounds to know that the said funds formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act.

    The offence is contrary to Section 21(a) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

    In count eight, the defendants, including Jaja and Liman (who are at large), were alleged to have, sometime in the year 2024, conspired to disguise the origin of the sum of about 6, 950, 000. 00 US dollars for the benefit of Yakubu Adamu, the Finance Commissioner, being proceeds of unlawful activity routed from Bauchi State Government’s funds through the BDC operators.

    The offence is contrary to Section 21(a) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, among other counts.

    NAN reports that Alhaji Bello Bodejo is the President, the Miyettti Allah Kautal Hore.

    Adamu, the 1st defendant, alongside a firm, Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd, is also facing another money laundering charge involving N4.6 billion before Justice Nwite.

    In the six-count charge, Adamu was alleged to have committed the offence while acting as the Branch Manager of Polaris Bank Ltd, Bauchi, sometime between June 2023 to December 2023

    The defendants, alongside others, were alleged to have facilitated and agreed to the conversion, concealment and use of funds in the sum of about N4,650,000,000.00 availed by Polaris Bank under the guise of financing the supply of motorcycles to Bauchi State Government through Emmanuel Asomugha General Enterprises.

    However, they were accused not to have supplied the motorcycles.