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Tag: EFCC

  • Court declines to hear EFCC over failure to vacate Diezani’s property

    Court declines to hear EFCC over failure to vacate Diezani’s property

    …to begin contempt proceeding against EFCC Chair

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has expressed displeasure over the failure by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to comply with its order directing the anti-graft agency to vacate one of the houses seized from former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke.

    Justice Musa Liman, in a ruling on Friday, held among others, that it was disrespectful of the court for the EFCC to disregard the court’s earlier order directing it to vacate the property – House 6, Aso Drive, Asokoro, Abuja – only to return to the same court for an order staying its said order pending appeal.

    Justice Liman, who accused the EFCC of treating the court’s earlier order with disdain, said his court would no longer hear any application from it (the EFCC) until it purged itself of the contemptuous act.

    The judge said, “The law is no respecter of any person. If order of the court can be treated with disdain by an agency of the government, then there will be nothing left but for persons to take law into their own hands.

    “Disobedience to a court order is injurious to the rule of law and can lead to anarchy. Where a party has refused to obey a court order, the court cannot exercise discretion in favour of such a party.

    “Therefore, this court will deny the applicant (EFCC) further audience till it purges itself of the contempt,” the judge said.

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    Justice Liman held that the May 16 order of the court, directing that the occupant of the property – High Chief Ikechi Emenike – be allowed access to the house, was still subsisting.

    The judge rejected the request by the EFCC to hear a motion for a stay the execution of the May 16 order issued in suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/1123/2021 in favour of High Chief Emenike.

    Justice Liman also issued an order for substituted service of court documents on EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukayode and a lawyer with the agency, Francis Usani, in relation to a pending contempt case against them.

    He ordered parties to return for the hearing of the contempt case after service.

    In the motion, seeking the committal of the two men, filed by Emenike’s lawyer, Obi Nwakor, the the court is prayed to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the EFCC Chairman and a lawyer that represented the agency in the case, Usani, “for brazen and grievous acts of contempt of resisting and obstructing the Sheriffs of this court from the execution of orders of this honourable court in this suit, made on the 16th day of May 2025.”

    The court is also urged to issue an order of the court, directing the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to take the duo “into custody with immediate effect for the purpose of bringing them before the court to show cause why they should not be committed to prison for brazen and grievous contempt of court.”

    According to court documents, the EFCC, in October 2023 secured an order for final forfeiture of the property and subsequently advertised it for sale.

    Emenike, who was the sitting tenant, later got an order of a HIgh Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ordering that he be accorded the right of first refusal, a decision the EFCC failed to comply with, and instead, evicted him, claiming to want to utilise it as its Chairman’s residence.

  • Alleged investment fraud: I was deceived into investing $10,000 – EFCC’s witness

    Alleged investment fraud: I was deceived into investing $10,000 – EFCC’s witness

    A Warri-based fish farmer, Mr Edafe Imirike, yesterday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that he was deceived into investing the sum $10,788 and 64 cents in Afriq Arbitrage System (AAS) Ltd, a cryptocurrency platform.

    The company is charged with advance fee fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Imirike, the 1st prosecution witness (PW-1), told Justice Obiora Egwuatu while being led in evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s legal team led by Geraldine Ofulue with Martha Babatunde.

    The witness, who identified Mr Jesam Michael, the Chef Executive Officer (CEO) of AAS Limited, in court, said Michael assured him of the safety of his money before investing.

    “In 2022, October to be precise, my sister who resides in Canada told me about Afriq Arbitrage System (AAS) Limited and I joined the telegraph platform which was owned by defendant.

    “He told me what to expect.

    “He showed me a CAC (Corporate Affairs Commission) document and EFCC certificate to show that the platform was legit

    “I invested the sum of 10,778 U.S. dollars, 64 cent from my fish farming,” he said.

    He said he also invited two of his uncles unto the platform.

    During cross examination by the defence lawyer, Uchenna Njoku, SAN, the witness admitted that he invested his money because he was convinced that the investment was genuine.

    “You will not have invested if you believe it was a crime?” the lawyer asked.

    “I invested based on the CAC and the EFCC certificates and that the platform was genuine; that our capital would be secured.

    “I never knew he has the spare key to take the money whenever he wishes,” he responded.

    When asked if his uncles and sister were still alive, the witness responded in the affirmative.

    “Did anyone of them give you letter of authority to represent them?” Njoku asked.

    “I manage the account. I can’t remember if they gave me letter,” he responded.

    When asked if he had received returns on his investment, he responded in the affirmative.

    “Just as you receive returns in the investment in your name, so your uncle and others did,” the lawyer asked, and Imirike said: “We received.”

    The witness said he indicated in his extra-judicial statement the returns on his investment.

    “I withdrew a total of 137 dollars,” he said.

    He agreed that he withdrew his first petition against the company at the police station, but based on the assurance that he would get his invested money back.

    When the lawyer put it to the witness that he wrote at the police station that he invested the sum of 10,788 U.S. dollars and 74 cent, Imirike said it was incorrect.

    When Njoku also confronted Imirike with a question that he collected the returns of 11, 910. 00 U.S. dollars, the witness said it was not correct.

    “It was because you realised you have withdrawn more than you invested that you decided to settle with the defendant?” the lawyer asked.

    “Not correct,” the witness said.

    “In full and final settlement of all your interest, the defendant undertook to give you the total sum of N1 million and a Toyota Corolla 2016 Model and he did,” the lawyer said.

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    “Not correct,” the witness responded.

    Imirike, however, said that the N1 million and the car given to him were not for settlement but a compensation.

    He said he had sold the car.

    “I suggest to you that the only reason you filed your petition on May 8, 2025 was because you heard the defendant had been arraigned in court and you felt you can get a second bite,” the lawyer said. But the witness said it was not correct.

    Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter until June 27 and July 4 for continuation of trial.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Egwuatu had, on June 10, ordered the remand of Mr Michael in Kuje Correctional Centre over alleged investment fraud.

    The judge, in a ruling in Michael’s bail application shortly after he was arraigned by the EFCC, refused his bail plea on the grounds of the gravity of the offence and weight of evidence against him.

    Justice Egwuatu agreed with the argument of EFCC’s lawyer, Babatunde, that despite the instant charge, more petitions were still being received by the commission and other security agencies from victims of the ponzi scheme of the defendant.

    The judge observed that the anti-graft agency, in its argument, also submitted that its further investigation had revealed that there were over 50,000 investors in Michael’s failed investment scheme.

    He also held that the victims were aggrieved and it would be in his own safety to remain in government custody pending the conclusion of the trial.

    The judge, however, ordered accelerated hearing of the trial.

    NAN reports that the EFCC had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/134/2025, dragged Michael and his company, a cryptocurrency trading platform, to court as 1st and 2nd defendants.

    The commission, in the seven-count charge bordering on money laundering, advance fee fraud, among others, accused Michael of investment fraud involving 844,416.36 U.S dollars, N590 million and another 10,000 U.S. dollars.

    The EFCC alleged that Michael and his company, between September 2022 and June 2023 in Abuja, while not being a bank or an authorised entity to take deposits, invited the public through advertisements to deposit funds with Afriq Arbitrage System Limited.

    This, according to the commission, is in contravention of Section 44(1) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020, and is punishable under the same Act.

    NAN observes that at Friday’s sitting, crowd of victims stormed the court to observe proceedings.

  • Journalist petitions EFCC, CBN, PCC over alleged excess deductions by bank

    Journalist petitions EFCC, CBN, PCC over alleged excess deductions by bank

    A journalist, Mr. Musliudeen Atanda Adebayo, has appealed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) to intervene and stop Microfinance Bank from making further deductions from his account.

    Adebayo, who serves as the Oyo state correspondent for DAILY POST, made the appeal in a formal petition submitted to the three agencies. Copies of the petition were submitted to the EFCC’s Ibadan Zonal Office, the CBN Ibadan Branch, and the PCC’s Oyo State office.

    In the petition titled “Petition Against Microfinance Bank Over Sudden Increment of My Payable Loan”, Adebayo urged the regulatory bodies to halt what he described as unjustified deductions by the bank.

    He explained that in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he was promised a grant but was instead given ₦180,000, which turned out to be a loan. 

    According to him, he has since repaid both the principal and the 15% interest. However, he expressed dismay that the bank is now demanding an additional 15% payment.

    Adebayo said he visited the Microfinance Bank branch in Dugbe, Ibadan, to close his account but was told he would still have to pay the extra 15% before that could be done.

    He called on the EFCC, CBN, and PCC to step in and stop the bank from making any further deductions from his account.

    “I have exhausted all the necessary avenues to resolve this matter amicably but the manager and the staff of Microfinance Bank at Dugbe Ibadan are still insisting that they will still deduct money from my account after I have paid the principal loan and the 15 per cent interest and I do not have any other options than to write this petition to the three agencies and make it available to the journalists for all members of the public to know what is happening. 

    “I am using this medium to lodge a complain over sudden increment of my payable loan at Microfinance Bank from 15 to 25 per cent. I will like to state that I was not informed that it was loan that we were given instead of grant. A sum of one hundred and eighty thousand was given to me during the COVID-19 pandemic era in 2020. 

    Read Also: EFCC vows never to allow re-looting of recovered assets

    “An account with 0250571240 was opened for me by the bank. We thought that it was grant at that time. No message was sent to me untill August 2023. Sometimes in August 2023, I received a message that I was supposed to have paid the loan. I started the repayment in September 2023. I approached the Dugbe Ibadan branch and demanded for the total amount I was to pay. I was told by the cashier that I was to pay the sum of N180,000 and additional 15 per cent as interest which if added together is N207,000 

    “I paid a sum of 10,000 on 19th August 2023. 5,000 on 22nd August 2023. 5,000 on 29th August, 2023. 5,000 on 20th September, 2023. 5,000 on 23rd October, 2023. 10,000 on 29th December, 2023. A sum of N101, 277 was deduced from my account on 10th May 2024 through GIS, additional sum of N1,727 was deduced through GIS recovery on 2nd July 2024, while N35,525 was also deduced through GIS recovery on 4th March 2025. On Sunday, 4th May, 2025, I paid a sum of N28,471 from my Jaiz Bank account as the balance I was to pay. I have paid the principal amount (N180,000) and the interest of fifteen per cent (N27,000). I am am not owing the bank and I want the account to be closed. 

    “Unfortunately, I approached the same branch and I was told there is additional N18,000 I was to pay. I told the manager to provide the schedule of payment I was issued sometimes ago but he refused. As at today, I have paid all the total amount of money I supposed to pay based on the sheet issued to me when I demanded the total amount of money I was to pay. 

    “On Friday, 23rd May, 2025, I approached the same branch demanding for the closure of my account but they told me that I can only change the status of my credit which I initially disagreed with. They told me to write a letter with the headline “Request to update my credit status”. I was not comfortable with this arrangement as I am no longer interested in dealing with the bank anymore. 

    “My request: I have paid all the total amount of money I supposed to pay including the 15 per cent interest and on this premises I seek your intervention to prevail on the bank not to deduct any money from my account henceforth. I want to close the account totally and I do not want to be have anything to do with the Bank anymore. I am using this medium to appeal to you to use your good office to ensure that all these requests are granted.”

  • Alleged investment fraud: I was deceived into investing my $10,000 – EFCC’s witness 

    Alleged investment fraud: I was deceived into investing my $10,000 – EFCC’s witness 

    A Warri-based Fish Farmer, Mr Edafe Imirike, on Friday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja that he was deceived into investing the sum 10, 788 dollars and 64 cent  in Afriq Arbitrage System (AAS) Ltd, a cryptocurrency platform.

    The company is charged with advance fee fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Imirike, the 1st prosecution witness (PW-1), told Justice Obiora Egwuatu while being led in evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s legal team led by Geraldine Ofulue with Martha Babatunde.

    The witness, who identified Mr Jesam Michael, the Chef Executive Officer (CEO) of AAS Limited, in court, said Michael assured him of the safety of his money before investing.

    “In 2022, October to be precise, my sister who resides in Canada told me about Afriq Arbitrage System (AAS) Limited and I joined the telegraph platform which was owned by defendant.

    “He told me what to expect.

    “He showed me a CAC (Corporate Affairs Commission) document and EFCC certificate to show that the platform was legit

    “I invested the sum of 10, 778 U.S. dollars, 64 cent from my fish farming,” he said.

    He said he also invited two of his uncles into the platform.

    During cross examination by the defence lawyer, Uchenna Njoku, SAN, the witness admitted that he invested his money because he was convinced that the investment was genuine.

    “You will not have invested if you believe it was a crime?” the lawyer asked.

    “I invested based on the CAC and the EFCC certificates and that the platform was genuine.

    “That our capital will be secured. I never knew he has the spare key to take the money whenever he wishes,” he responded.

    When asked if his uncles and sister were still alive, the witness responded in the affirmative.

    “Did anyone of them gave you letter of authority to represent them,” Njoku asked.

    “I manage the account. I can’t remember if they give me letter,” he responded.

    When asked if he had received returns on his investment, he responded in the affirmative.

    “Just as you receive returns in the investment in your name, so your uncle and others did,” the lawyer asked, and Imirike said: “We received.”

    The witness said he indicated in his extra-judicial statement the returns on his investment.

    “I withdrew a total of 137 dollars,” he said.

    He agreed that he withdrew his first petition against the company at the police station, but based on the assurance that he would get his invested money back.

    When the lawyer put it to the witness that he wrote at the police station  that he invested the sum of 10, 788 U.S. dollars and 74 cent, Imirike said it was incorrect.

    When Njoku also confronted Imirike with a question that he collected the returns of 11, 910. 00 U.S. dollars, the witness said it was not correct.

    Read Also: We won’t allow re-looting of recovered assets, says EFCC Chair

    “It was because you realised you have withdrawn more than you invested that you decided to settle with the defendant?” the lawyer asked.

    “Not correct,” the witness said.

    “In full and final settlement of all your interest, the defendant undertook to give you the total sum of N1 million and a Toyota Corolla 2016 Model and he did,” the lawyer said.

    “Not correct,” the witness responded.

     Imirike, however, said that the N1 million and the car given to him were not for settlement but a compensation.

    He said he had sold the car.

    “I suggest to you that the only reason you filed your petition on May 8, 2025, was because you heard the defendant had been arraigned in court and you felt you can get a second bite,” the lawyer said, but the witness said it was not correct.

    Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter until June 27 and July 4 for continuation of trial.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Egwuatu had, on June 10, ordered the remand of Mr Michael in Kuje Correctional Centre over alleged investment fraud.

    The judge, in a ruling in Michael’s bail application shortly after he was arraigned by the EFCC, refused his bail plea on the grounds of the gravity of the offence and weight of evidence against him.

    Justice Egwuatu agreed with the argument of the EFCC’s lawyer, Babatunde, that despite the instant charge, more petitions were still being received by the commission and other security agencies from victims of the ponzi scheme of the defendant.

    The judge observed that the anti-graft agency, in its argument, also submitted that its further investigation had revealed that there were over 50,000 investors in Michael’s failed investment scheme.

    He also held that the victims were aggrieved and it would be in his own safety to remain in government custody pending the conclusion of the trial.

    The judge, however, ordered accelerated hearing of the trial.

    NAN reports that the EFCC had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/134/2025, dragged Michael and his company, a cryptocurrency trading platform, to court as 1st and 2nd defendants.

    The commission, in the seven-count charge bordering on money laundering, advance fee fraud, among others, accused Michael of investment fraud involving 844,416.36 U.S dollars, N590 million and another 10,000 U.S. dollars.

    The EFCC alleged that Michael and his company, between September 2022 and June 2023 in Abuja, while not being a bank or an authorised entity to take deposits, invited the public through advertisements to deposit funds with Afriq Arbitrage System Limited.

    This, according to the commission, is in contravention of Section 44(1) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020, and is punishable under the same Act.

    NAN observes that at Friday’s sitting, crowd of victims stormed the court to observe proceedings.

    (NAN)

  • EFCC vows never to allow re-looting of recovered assets

    EFCC vows never to allow re-looting of recovered assets

    Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has assured Nigerians that assets recovered from corrupt individuals will never again be re-looted under his watch.

    Olukoyede gave the assurance on Wednesday during a visit to the main campus of the newly established Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, Kaduna State—formerly the privately-owned Nok University.

    The institution was forfeited to the Federal Government following a June 2024 court ruling by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    The ruling found that the university and other assets, including a hotel, water factory, and event centre, were acquired with illicit funds by its founder, Anthony Hassan, a former Director of Finance and Accounts at the Federal Ministry of Health.

    Speaking at the campus, Olukoyede emphasised the EFCC’s commitment to ensuring that all recovered assets are repurposed for the public good, adding that good governance and accountability are achievable in Nigeria when looted wealth is redirected for the benefit of citizens.

    According to him, “This is a testimony that good governance is a possibility in Nigeria. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given us a marching order to go and ensure the delivery of good governance, and he has provided the leadership directly and indirectly, by actions and by words.

    “Never in the history of this country are we going to allow recovered assets to be relocated again. So, this is a testimony of accountability, it is a testimony of transparency, it is a testimony of judicious use of recovered assets.

    “Nigerians deserve to enjoy the proceeds of accountability, and that is why we decided to give this back to the people. After recovery, we feel the people of the immediate community must be the first beneficiaries. So, it is important for us to appreciate the leadership of Mr President because this has not been happening before.

    Read Also: EFCC tenders Obasanjo’s statement on alleged $6b Mambilla power fraud

    “Just yesterday, I was in Bayelsa State to commission some projects. That ordinarily was not supposed to the in the mandate of the EFCC, but because those projects were built with proceeds of crime; from the money recovered from Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) strictly. And that is what we would be doing going forward.

    “The President directed that we hand over this project in Kachia to the Ministry of Education, which we did openly at the Villa, and I promised at that event that we would make sure that the facility is used for what the President has directed. And that is why we are here today to show Nigerians that, Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, is a reality.

    “So, let the nay-sayers who think nothing good can come out of the anti-corruption war in Nigeria know this. This is a testimony that, anti-corruption war is working and it is going to work for the benefit of Nigerians,” he said.

    He, however, expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving the EFCC under his leadership the opportunity to function well, just as he lauded Governor Uba Sani, Senator Sunday Katung and other stakeholders for their commitment to the realisation of the Federal University.

    Earlier, the Senator representing Kaduna South Senatorial district Senator Sunday Marshall Katung commended the management office the commission for yielding to the request of granted the forfeited Nok University to be used as Federal University of Applied sciences Kachia.

    “We are indeed grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and our Governor Senator Uba Sani for making the university become a reality, because for us, the establishment of this university is like a state creation to us”.

    Also, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Barnabas Qurix, commended the EFCC Chairman for the visit and solicited necessary support that will enable the University to stand on its feet.

  • EFCC re-arraigns Bauchi A-G, BDC operator

    EFCC re-arraigns Bauchi A-G, BDC operator

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday, re-arraigned Mr  Sirajo Jaja, the Accountant-General (AG), Bauchi State, and a Bureau de Change (BDC) Operator, Aliyu Abubajar, on allegations bordering on money laundering.

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

    They pleaded not guilty to the charge .

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

    However in the latest charge, while Abubakar (trading under the name and style of Jasfad Resources Enterprise) is the 1st defendant in the amended charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/101/2025, Jaja is listed as 2nd defendant.

    Upon resumed hearing on Tuesday, Abba Mohammed, SAN, informed the court that an amended charge dated June 16, was filed today (June 17).

    “May I draw the attention of the court to the proof of evidence filed in May 30 and another one filed in June 16.

    “We pray that the amended charge be read to the defendants,” Mohammed said.

    READ ALSO: Tinubu orders speedy execution of approved projects

    Abubakar’s lawyer, Gordy Uche, SAN, and Jaja’s counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, did not oppose the application.

    After the charge was read to them, they pleaded not guilty to the counts.

    The defence lawyers then applied that the formal bail earlier granted to their clients should continue and after the EFCC’s lawyer did not object, the judge directed that the duo continue in the bail terms.

    When Mohammed informed the court that their witness was in court to give his evidence, the defence lawyers applied for an adjourned date to enable them prepared adequately for their clients.

    “We will be constraint to ask for an adjournment. The additional proof of evidence, especially number two, was just served on us late yesterday. I have not even have the opportunity to confront my client with it.

    “Secondly, this morning, we were served with this amended charge. Even though we have not read through it, we felt we should not stall the proceedings,” Abubakar’s lawyer said.

    Corroborating, Chief Uche, who appeared for Jaja, equally sought an adjournment

    Mohammed did not oppose and Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter until July 21 for commencement of trial.

    The anti-graft agency, in count one, alleged that Abubakar (trading under the name and style of Jasfad Resources Enterprise), a purported BDC operator; Jaja; Abubakar  Hafiz (at large); Ari Manga (at large) and Muhammed Bose (at large), sometime between 2024 and 2025, did conspire to commit an offence of money laundering.

    They were accused of converting public funds belonging to Bauchi State Government which they allegedly transferred from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account domiciled in United Bank for Africa.

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

    The funds were alleged to have been transferred from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account domiciled in UBA into the bank account of Jasfad Resources Enterprise domiciled in tye same bank.

    The offence is contrary to Sections 5 and 29{1)(c) of the Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous (Provisions) Act Cap F34 LFN 2010 and punishable under Section 29(2) of the same Act, among other counts.

  • EFCC tenders Obasanjo’s statement on alleged $6b Mambilla power fraud

    EFCC tenders Obasanjo’s statement on alleged $6b Mambilla power fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday tendered before an Abuja High Court a statement by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the trial of Dr Olu Agunloye.

    Agunloye,  a former Minister of Power and Steel,  is charged with infractions in the award of contract for the Mambilla Hydropower Station in Taraba State.

    Agunloye is standing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on forgery, disobeying a presidential directive, and gratification brought against him. The case is before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie.

    In the charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/617/2023, EFCC alleged that Agunloye awarded a contract for the Mambilla project on May 22, 2003, to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) without any budgetary provision, approval and cash backing.

    The commission also alleged that the former minister received N5.212 million from SPTCL and Leno Adesanya, through Jide Abiodun Sotirin via a Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) account to “convey” the Federal Government’s approval. 

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

    At the resumed hearing of the case, the third prosecution witness (PW3), Umar   Babangida,   told the court that former President Obasanjo wrote a letter, dated November 27, 2023, to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.

    He added that in the letter,  Obasanjo gave an account of what transpired at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of May 21, 2003, concerning the power project contract.

    The witness said that EFCC subsequently wrote to the Federal Ministry of Justice, requesting the Certified True Copy CTC) of the former President’s letter, which the ministry obliged. 

    He said: “We received the  CTV of the document where the former President stated that he received a memorandum from the former Minister of Power.

    He added that he minuted on the document, directing the minister to submit a memo to the Federal Executive Council for deliberation.

    Read Also: Yahoo boys bringing shame to Nigeria – EFCC Chairman

    According to Babangida, Obasanjo  said he neither  gave approval to the former  minister for the award of the contract nor did the FEC at its meeting   on  May 21, 2003.”

    The witness further informed the court that in the course of the investigation, the commission’s investigating team met with Obasanjo.

    “We interviewed the former president, and he later made a statement.

    “In the course of the interview, Obasanjo told us that he did not approve the defendant to award the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station to SPTCL,” the witness added.  

    The prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed (SAN), then tendered the former President’s statement as an exhibit in the case.

    The defendant’s counsel, Samuel Fagade, who represented the lead counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), objected to the document.

    He told the court that he was reserving it for the final argument in the case.

    The former President’s statement was temporarily admitted as an exhibit by the court.

    Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned until June 18 for the continuation of the hearing.

  • Lawyers, CSOs return to EFCC to demand arrest of ex-NNPCL boss Kyari

    Lawyers, CSOs return to EFCC to demand arrest of ex-NNPCL boss Kyari

    A group of lawyers and concerned youths has returned to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters in Abuja to demand the immediate arrest and prosecution of Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari, former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).

    The group, led by Barr Ojonugwa Benjamine Theophilus, submitted a petition to the EFCC on April 25, 2025, alleging that Kyari misappropriated billions of dollars as NNPC boss. 

    However, 46 days after submitting the petition, the group claimed that no concrete action has been taken by the EFCC.

    “We are here today as a group of lawyers and concerned Nigerian youths to follow up on our earlier petition, with the above title, submitted and received by the commission on the 25th of April, 2025,” Theophilus said. 

    Read Also: P-Square royalty dispute: SAN faults Peter’s EFCC statement

    “It is now 46 days since we submitted our petition which contained details of the billions of dollars that were allegedly misappropriated by Mele Kolo Kyari during his time as Group CEO of NNCL, and yet no concrete action or steps seems to have been taken by this commission to assuage the grievances of majority of Nigerians who demand accountability from public office holders. 

    “We are also chagrined that despite our well written petition, detailing allegations of misappropriation of funds, tax evasion, economic sabotage and abuse of office by the former NNPCL group CEO, the EFCC is yet to officially invite Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari for questioning. 

    “Nigeria belongs to all of us and we all have a stake in the growth and development of this country. While we appreciate the role the EFCC is playing and has continued to play in ridding this country of the fangs of corruption, we wish to demand the immediate arrest and diligent prosecution of Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari, to answer to the monumental economic and financial crimes he is alleged to have committed against the Nigerian state. “

    The group called on the EFCC to act swiftly to restore public trust and demonstrate its commitment to fighting corruption.

  • P-Square royalty dispute: SAN faults Peter’s EFCC statement

    P-Square royalty dispute: SAN faults Peter’s EFCC statement

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Clement Onwuenwunor, has faulted claims by music star Peter Okoye of P-Square in his statement to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The SAN told the Federal High Court in Lagos that the claims were made in a bid to mislead investigators in an ongoing fraud trial involving royalties and company finances.

    The SAN, during a tense cross-examination session before Justice Alexander Owoeye, accused Peter of deliberate falsehood regarding his education, access to company funds, and royalty entitlements.

    The defence counsel told the court that Peter falsely claimed in his EFCC statement to be a graduate of the University of Abuja, whereas records show he dropped out at 100 level.

    “Mr. P, on page A5 of your EFCC statement, you claimed to be a graduate. That is untrue. You dropped out at 100 level,” Onwuenwunor said pointedly.

    Peter said: “I went to UNIABUJA, but that’s not why I’m here. I dropped out at 300 level and took a transcript to UST (University of Science and Technology), Port Harcourt.”

    Pressed further on whether he had any certificate or document to prove graduation from UST, Peter admitted, “No.”

    The contradiction, along with his combative tone, drew the ire of Justice Owoeye, who was forced to caution him for disrespecting the court and addressing the defence counsel rudely. 

    His lawyer,  M. K. Bashir, also had to intervene more than once to restrain his client’s outbursts.

    Peter in his testimony had earlier testified that Jude Okoye’s wife, Ifeoma, owned 80 per cent of Northside Music Limited, while Jude held 20 per cent. 

    But the defence presented the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, registration certificate, showing that Jude Okoye holds 80 per cent, while his wife owns 20 per cent.

    Confronted with this document in court, Peter admitted that his initial testimony was incorrect.

    The defence also accused Peter of lying about not being a signatory to Northside Music Ltd’s accounts.

    In his EFCC statement, Peter claimed Jude was the sole signatory and that he had no access.

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    However, Onwuenwunor presented a signed account mandate confirming Jude as a Category A signatory, while Peter and his twin brother, Paul Okoye, were both Category B signatories.

    “This proves you had access to the accounts all along,” Onwuenwunor said, holding up the document before the judge.

    The defence further tendered bank statements from Ecobank, admitted as Exhibit P which detailed royalty payments from Lex Records via Mad Solutions Limited, the company in charge of managing P-Square’s music catalogue.

    Peter had earlier told the EFCC that he was unaware of any royalty payments and had never received proceeds from them. But the Ecobank statement showed consistent royalty transfers to the Northside Entertainment account from 2012 to 2017—proceeds which the defence insisted Peter shared from the beginning.

    Onwuenwunor told the court that the inconsistencies in Peter’s statements were part of a broader effort to distort facts and mislead both the EFCC and the court.

    Justice Owoeye adjourned to October 23 and November 10, 2025, for the continuation of cross-examination and trial.

  • CSOs demand full justice for late Kenneth Ogbogu as EFCC nabs imposter

    CSOs demand full justice for late Kenneth Ogbogu as EFCC nabs imposter

    A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations have commended the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede for serving justice for the late Kenneth Ogbogu by prosecuting Sylvanus Enonche Oko for impersonation, identity theft, forgery, unlawful land grabbing, and other financial offenses.

    The groups who made this commendation included Youths Off The Street Initiative (YOTSI), National Youth Assembly of Nigeria, Informal Sector and Unemployed Youths Association of Nigeria and Southern Nigeria Youth Congress.

    The groups urged the EFCC to fully investigate the matter and ensure justice is fully served for the families and associates of the deceased.

    Founder of YOTSI and humanitarian activist, Kennedy Iyere explained that Ogbogu had died in a motor accident in 2012, leaving behind his family and a company, K.E Keneco Nig. Limited, which he had registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)

    However, Oko allegedly impersonated Ogbogu and took unlawful possession of the properties and assets.

    He said: “Before his sudden demise, Ogbogu registered a company with the CAC known as , K.E Keneco Nig. Limited, a feat he was able to achieve, through the help of a partner and stakeholder, who believed in him, and invested huge funds in his company for the acquisition of properties, among other assets. But the partnership was short-lived, as Ogbogu was met with sudden death.

    “Not too long after his demise, one certain Sylvanus Enonche Oko decided to fraudulently exploit the unfortunate situation to impersonate the dead by parading himself as Kenneth Ogbogu, thus committing a heinous crime of multi-level identity theft, all in the efforts to criminally take unlawful possession of the landed properties and other assets of the late Kenneth Ogbogu. He actually succeeded with his evil enterprise through the failure and connivance of some public agencies, which aided his crimes of impersonation and identity theft, forgery, and other related offences.

    “Sylvanus Enonche Oko, who is an indigene of Benue and idoma by tribe, had over the past years changed his name to Kenneth Ogbogu, who was a native of Anambra State, thus enabling him to distort and compromise the records of the late Kenneth Ogbogu and his Company at the CAC and AGIS. With this unfortunate development, Sylvanus Enonche Oko succeeded edging out the partner and key stakeholder who invested his funds in the properties acquired by K.E Keneco Nig. Limited before the death of Kenneth Ogbogu.

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    “As at today, some of those properties have been unlawfully grabbed and fraudulently sold by Sylvanus Enonche Oko, at the detriment of the third party investor, whose duty it is to safeguard his investment and the legacies of K.E Keneco Nig. Limited.”

    Iyere added that through the help of the EFCC Oko has been nabbed and put in custody but assured the agency of support in ensuring justice is served.

    “The EFCC’s actions have proven that public agencies can still be trusted in Nigeria to deliver on their goals.”

    Iyere added that other heads of public agencies should emulate Olukoyede’s leadership to enforce dutifulness and accountability in public service delivery in Nigeria.