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Tag: EFCC

  • Court grants EFCC interim forfeiture order in NNPC’s alleged fraud

    Court grants EFCC interim forfeiture order in NNPC’s alleged fraud

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order granting an  interim forfeiture of of N30,700, 000.00 the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) claimed was associated with an alleged fraud perpetrated by some senior officiala of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order while ruling on an ex-parte motion, marked:FHC/ABJ/CS/2775/2025, filed by the EFCC and moved last Friday by its lawyer, Emenike Mgbemele.

    Justice Nwite held, in the ruling, that having considered all the material evidence placed before the court by the applicant, the application was meritorious and ought to be granted.

    The judge ordered the EFCC to publish the interim order of forfeiture in a national daily for interested persons to show cause, within 14 days, why the funds should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    He then adjourned till January 22 for the EFCC to report its compliance with the order for publication.

    The EFCC, in a supporting affidavit, said the funds are currently lodged in EFCC’s Recovery Account with United Bank for Africa (UBA) in account number: 9058700029 with manager’s cheque name: M/C Draft Outstanding Account, be forfeited to the Federal Government.

    It stated, in a supporting affidavit, that the funds were discoverd while investigating allegations of fraudulent activities of some high profile officials of the NNPC as well as other criminal petitions brought to the commission.

    Read Also: EFCC to Bala Mohammed: Stop making wild claims of persecution

    The EFCC added: “In the cause of investigation and analysing some of the documents received from the bank, the name of Mr. Adamu Yakubu, a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, featured prominently.

    “On September 2, 2025, Mr. Yakubu, whose name featured in the cause of investigation, was invited and he volunteered his statement.

     “Mr Yakubu submitted a ledger to the commission evidencing records of his transactions wherein the details of customers and the amount of dollars sold by them are recorded.

     “Upon analysing the entering in the ledger submitted by Mr Yakubu, it was revealed that over N4, 000, 000, 000.00 (Four Billion Naira) was transferred to the accounts of different individuals and companies on the instruction of one Mr. Ibrahim Sani, a staff of Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS).

    “It was discovered that the balance of N30.7 million sought to be forfeited was still in possession of Yakubu from the funds which he claimed was given to him by Mr Ibrahim Sani.

     “On the 15th day of September 2025, Mr. Ibrahim Sani, a staff of FIRS, whose name appeared on the ledger and who Mr Yakubu claimed owned the N30, 700, OOO (Thirty Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira Only) was invited and he volunteered his statement.

    “Mr. Ibrahim Sani gave statement on how he had been using Yakubu, the BDC operator, to be sending monies to different individuals and companies.

     “Mr.Ibrahim equally confirmed how he usually deposit huge amount of money (Dollars) with Mr Yakubu who in turn sends its naira equivalent to individuals and companies accounts provided by him.

     “Mr. Ibrahim neither ascertained nor verified the source of these monies, which he has been depositing with Mr. Yakubu for onward transfer to other people, which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

    “Mr. Ibrahim, however, denied ownership of the N30.7 million found in Yakubu’s account as at the time of making his statement.”

    The EFCC further stated that Ibrahim claimed that Yakubu was not holding any of his money as at September 15, 2025.

    It added that Yakubu and Ibrahim denied ownership of the said N30.7 million found in the account of the former (Yakubu).

    The EFCC stated Mr. Yakubu has since raised four different managers’ cheques in the name of the EFCC Recovery Account in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    It added  that the source of the funds sought to be forfeited in the account of Mr. Yakubu “is proceeds of unlawful activities.”

  • Ex-Lagos director jailed 29 months for N48.9m bank theft

    Ex-Lagos director jailed 29 months for N48.9m bank theft

    An Ikeja Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court yesterday sentenced a former Lagos State Education Director, Olawale Faleti, to two years and five months’ imprisonment for stealing N48.9 million from Access Bank.

    Justice Rahman Oshodi convicted Faleti, 64, on five counts of stealing, after finding him guilty of charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Delivering judgment, Oshodi held that Faleti’s actions were calculated, noting he made repeated withdrawals in spite of knowing he lacked authorisation.

    The judge said the convict showed no genuine remorse and failed to fully accept responsibility for his criminal conduct.

    He said: “Financial institutions are the lifeblood of our economy and public confidence in them must be maintained.

    “Those who seek to defraud or steal from financial institutions must know they will face severe consequences.

    “Taking all circumstances into account, including aggravating and mitigating factors, a custodial sentence is necessary and appropriate.

    “I apply a 20 per cent discount from the three-year maximum sentence, recognising your status as a first-time offender and minimal restitution efforts.”

    The court sentenced Faleti to two years and five months’ imprisonment on each of the five counts.

    Oshodi ordered that the sentences should run concurrently.

    “You are, therefore, sentenced to two years and five months’ imprisonment,” the judge said.

    He added that Faleti’s biometric details would be registered in the Lagos State Judiciary offenders’ database.

    Read Also: Bashiru to Wike: you lack locus to dabble into APC affairs

    After deducting N3 million already restituted, the court ordered Faleti to pay an additional N45.9 million to Access Bank Plc.

    The judge directed Access Bank to notify the court upon full restitution by the convict.

    The court ordered that Faleti’s sentence begin on Jan. 5 and that his name be entered in the Lagos State Offenders’ Registry.

    Earlier, EFCC counsel, Mr Ahmed Dambuwa, told the court that Faleti dishonestly converted N48.9 million belonging to Access Bank.

    Dambuwa said Faleti had access to an Access Bank credit card permitting withdrawals of not less than N43,000 per transaction.

    He said Faleti exploited unauthorised access caused by a system glitch to withdraw about N48 million during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

    One charge stated that between July 2 and July 10, 2020, Faleti converted N12.6 million, property of Access Bank Plc, for personal use.

    Another charge said that between May 22 and July 1, 2020, Faleti converted N6.9 million belonging to Access Bank Plc.

    The EFCC said the offences contravened Section 287(1)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

  • Court grants EFCC’s request for interim forfeiture of N30.7m linked to alleged fraud in NNPC 

    Court grants EFCC’s request for interim forfeiture of N30.7m linked to alleged fraud in NNPC 

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order granting an  interim forfeiture of of N30,700, 000.00 the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) claimed was associated with an alleged fraud perpetrated by some senior officiala of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order while ruling on an ex-parte motion, marked:FHC/ABJ/CS/2775/2025, filed by the EFCC and moved last Friday by its lawyer, Emenike Mgbemele.

    Justice Nwite held, in the ruling, that having considered all the material evidence placed before the court by the applicant, the application was meritorious and ought to be granted.

    The judge ordered the EFCC to publish the interim order of forfeiture in a national daily for interested persons to show cause, within 14 days, why the funds should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    He then adjourned till January 22 for the EFCC to report its compliance with the order for publication.

    The EFCC, in a supporting affidavit, said the funds are currently lodged in EFCC’s Recovery Account with United Bank for Africa (UBA) in account number: 9058700029 with manager’s cheque name: M/C Draft Outstanding Account, be forfeited to the Federal Government.

    It stated, in a supporting affidavit, that the funds were discoverd while investigating allegations of fraudulent activities of some high profile officials of the NNPC as well as other criminal petitions brought to the commission.

    The EFCC added: “In the cause of investigation and analysing some of the documents received from the bank, the name of Mr. Adamu Yakubu, a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, featured prominently.

    “On September 2, 2025, Mr. Yakubu, whose name featured in the cause of investigation, was invited and he volunteered his statement.

    “Mr Yakubu submitted a ledger to the commission evidencing records of his transactions wherein the details of customers and the amount of dollars sold by them are recorded.

    “Upon analysing the entering in the ledger submitted by Mr Yakubu, it was revealed that over N4, 000, 000, 000.00 (Four Billion Naira) was transferred to the accounts of different individuals and companies on the instruction of one Mr. Ibrahim Sani, a staff of Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS).

    “It was discovered that the balance of N30.7 million sought to be forfeited was still in possession of Yakubu from the funds which he claimed was given to him by Mr Ibrahim Sani.

    “On the 15th day of September 2025, Mr. Ibrahim Sani, a staff of FIRS, whose name appeared on the ledger and who Mr Yakubu claimed owned the N30, 700, OOO (Thirty Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira Only) was invited and he volunteered his statement.

    “Mr. Ibrahim Sani gave statement on how he had been using Yakubu, the BDC operator, to be sending monies to different individuals and companies.

    “Mr.Ibrahim equally confirmed how he usually deposit huge amount of money (Dollars) with Mr Yakubu who in turn sends its naira equivalent to individuals and companies accounts provided by him.

    “Mr. Ibrahim neither ascertained nor verified the source of these monies, which he has been depositing with Mr. Yakubu for onward transfer to other people, which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

    Read Also: Court declines bail to Bauchi finance commissioner, others accused of financing terrorism with $9.7m

    “Mr. Ibrahim, however, denied ownership of the N30.7 million found in Yakubu’s account as at the time of making his statement.”

    The EFCC further stated that Ibrahim claimed that Yakubu was not holding any of his money as at September 15, 2025.

    It added that Yakubu and Ibrahim denied ownership of the said N30.7 million found in the account of the former (Yakubu).

    The EFCC stated Mr. Yakubu has since raised four different managers’ cheques in the name of the EFCC Recovery Account in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    It added  that the source of the funds sought to be forfeited in the account of Mr. Yakubu “is proceeds of unlawful activities.”

  • EFCC dismisses Gov Bala’s persecution claims as “wild, far-fetched”

    EFCC dismisses Gov Bala’s persecution claims as “wild, far-fetched”

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed allegations by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, that the anti-graft agency is being used by political opponents to persecute him and members of his administration.

    In a statement issued on Friday via its official X handle, the EFCC described the governor’s claims as “wild” and “far-fetched,” stressing that the commission operates independently and free from political interference.

    The agency was reacting to comments attributed to Mohammed, in which he alleged that the EFCC was being deployed by political interests, particularly the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to target him and his aides.

    According to the commission, it was established to fight economic and financial crimes and carries out its mandate in a non-partisan manner.

    “The EFCC is an independent agency created to fight economic and financial crimes.

    “The commission is non-partisan and discharges its mandate without affection or ill will.

    “The attempt to portray it as a pliable agency that panders to the demands of certain political interests is therefore mischievous and condemnable,” the statement said.

    The EFCC described it as “derogatory” for the governor to link its activities in Bauchi State to the influence of any political office holder.

    “It is derogatory for Mohammed to ascribe the commission’s activities in Bauchi State to the influence of Mr. Wike.

    “It is important to state that no political office holder is in a position to influence the investigative activities of the commission,” it added.

    The commission further stated that Mohammed was standing trial for money laundering at the time he won the Bauchi governorship election, noting that the case was only halted due to the constitutional immunity attached to his office.

    “If Bala Mohammed wants to be honest, he would have revealed to Nigerians that he was standing trial for money laundering at the time he won election as governor of Bauchi State.

    “Only the constitutional immunity from prosecution, which his current office attracts, has put that case in abeyance. Who also influenced the commission to investigate him in 2016 and charge him to court?” the EFCC queried.

    Read Also: Surpass EFCC records as Justice Ministry’s DPP, Olajengbesi tasks Oyedepo 

    On the ongoing cases involving some Bauchi State Government officials, the commission said the facts had already been placed before the courts, adding that members of the public could access the charge sheets to determine whether the cases were politically motivated or the outcome of investigations.

    The EFCC also dismissed claims that it was “crying wolf” by linking the matter to terrorism financing, insisting that it was enforcing existing laws and fulfilling its statutory responsibilities.

    “It is the height of hypocrisy for opposition politicians to be quick to scream persecution each time an opposition figure is called to account but are mute when a member of the ruling party faces the same ordeal,” the statement said.

    “Recently, the commission arraigned a ranking member of the ruling party in court for alleged corruption, and not a whimper of persecution was heard from any of the political divide.”

    The anti-graft agency urged the Bauchi State governor to concentrate on governance and allow it to carry out its mandate of sanitising the nation’s financial system.

    Mohammed had earlier accused the EFCC of political persecution after the commission initiated legal proceedings against some officials of his administration, alleging that the actions were aimed at pressuring him to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

  • Court orders EFCC to produce detained Bauchi Finance commissioner in court

    Court orders EFCC to produce detained Bauchi Finance commissioner in court

    The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to produce Yakubu Adamu, Commissioner of Finance, Bauchi State, in court on Dec. 30 for arraignment over alleged N4.6 billion money laundering.

    Justice Emeka Nwite, who gave the order after EFCC’s lawyer, Samuel Chime, failed to produce Adamu in court to take his plea, threatened to sanction the prosecuting counsel if he failed to come with the defendant in the next adjourned date.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that although Adamu, alongside a firm, Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd, were listed for arraignment on Tuesday, the case could not proceed due to the absence of the EFCC’s lawyer and the defendants.

    However, the defendants’ team of lawyers, led by Chief Gordy Uche, SAN, was in court.

    Justice Nwite then adjourned the matter until Dec. 24 for the defendants to take their plea.

    When the matter was called on Wednesday for the defendants to take their plea, Adamu was not in court.

    Chime then tendered an apology for his inability to be in court the previous day.

    He said though the matter was scheduled for arraignment today, the prosecution had a few challenges.

    “If my lord will notice, the defendant is not in court in that we intend to amend our charge and bring in other defendants who are at large in the charge,” he said.

    Th lawyer said the two persons listed as “being at large” wrote to the anti-graft agency that they would be honoring their invitation, hence, the need to amend the charge against Adamu and joined the others.

    Chime said that since the remand order obtained would be expiring, he applied for an extension of the order to enable them bring all the defendants for arraignment on Dec. 30.

    Read Also: EFCC files money laundering charge against Malami, son

    Responding, Uche, who appeared for the defendants, vehemently opposed Chime’s application for adjournment.

    He argued that such application was not made in good faith.

    “We feel that the prosecution can amend the charge at any time before judgment.

    “As of today, there is a charge before the court against the defendant which the defendant can take a plea on while the prosecution can amend at any time,” he said.

    The senior lawyer said it is the right of the prosecution to bring in as many defendants as its wishes.

    He said since a charge is before the court, “it prosupooses that the investigation has closed.”

    According to him, it is also pertinent to say that we have filed a motion for bail and the prosecution has filed a counter affidavit.

    Uche argued that as at the time the commission responded to their bail application, they never mentioned that the investigation had not closed or that they were looking for anybody.

    “So the matter is ripe for the arraignment and for the motion for bail my.lord,” he said.

    He, therefore, applied that the matter be stood down so that Adamu could be produced to take his plea.

    “My lord, the 1st defendant is the commissioner of Finance for Bauchi State.

    “Since his detention, more than 60, 000 of the workers have not been paid.

    “They (workers) may even go on Christmas break without salaries, so it goes beyond one person.

    “The entire Bauchi State has been shutdown down,” he said.

    Uche added that no sooner had he got the Tuesday’s proceedings than he ensured that the prosecution was served yesterday to show the urgency of the matter.

    “And they want the workers to go without salaries.

    “The situation is really critical my lord. I have the Attorney-General of Bauchi State here with me and he can also talk on the matter.

    “It goes beyond the December 30th being sought by the prosecution,” Uche said.

    Chime told the court that he was only asking for an adjournment to ensure a uniformed arraignment for the defendants, insisting that the investigation had already been concluded.

    “So why didn’t you wait for this before filing this charge?” the judge asked,but Chime said the two suspects came to their Bauchi office the previous day.

    “So what assurance are you given me that you will produce them on next adjourned date?” the judge asked.

    “If they are not here my lord, we will proceed,” Chime said.

    Justice Nwite, who expressed dismay over Chime’s response, said: “In as much as you are not ready, why will you bring the charge? I detest this absolutely.”

    “We are sorry my lord,” Chime begged.

    But Uche, who insisted that the matter be stood down so that Adamu could be brought to court, said the defendant’s liberty was at stake.

    “Now I asked you what will you undertake if the other defendants were not here on the next adjourned date?” the judge asked Chime.

    “We will go with the defendant’s arraignment,” the EFCC’s lawyer restated.

    “This is not fear what you people are doing. It is uncalled for and quiet unprofessional.

    “Learner silk (addressing Uche), whatever be the case, I will, and I will, I am saying this with double “I will,” if he did not bring the defendants, I will descend very heavily on him (Chime), go and tell your chairman (EFCC chairman).

    Justice Nwite, who adjourned the matter until Dec. 30, threatened to sanction the prosecuting counsel if he failed to comply.

    “I have listened to the submission of the prosecution and I have also listened to the submission of counsel for the defendants.

    “I, however, expressed my displeasure over the prosecution’s attitude. It is unfair that they will file a charge and fail to bring the defendant for arraignment.

    “I must say that if they fail to bring the defendant on the next adjourned date, I will not take it lightly with them,” he said.

    NAN reports that while Adamu is the 1st defendant, Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd is the 2nd defendant in the six-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/694/2025.

    The charge is dated and filed on Dec. 19 by Chime of the Legal and Prosecution Department of EFCC.

    In count one, Adamu, while acting as the Branch Manager of Polaris Bank Ltd, Bauchi, alongside Ishaku Mohammed Aliyu, Managing Director of Makayye Investment Resources Ltd (now at large) and Muntaka Mohammed Duguri (now at large), were alleged to have conspired to commit the offence, sometime between June 2023 to December 2023.

    They were alleged to have facilitated and agreed to the conversion, transfer, concealment and use of funds in the sum of about N4,650,000,000.00 (Four Billion, Six Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) availed by Polaris Bank under the guise of financing the supply of motorcycles to Bauchi State Governmeni through Emmanuel Asomugha General Enterprises.

    “The motorcycles were not supplied, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(a) and punishable under Section 21 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022,” the count read in part.

    Count six accused Adamu, Aliyu and Duguri of retaining and causing the transfer of proceeds of an unlawful act to nominees and third parties, by causing parts of the funds connected with the Polaris Bank facility to be paid and circulated through third-party accounts sometime in 2023.

    It further alleged that the transfer included the one made through I.S. Makayye Investment Resources Ltd and the transfer of #165, 900,000.00 to Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd.

    The funds were said to formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act.

    The offence is contrary to Section 20(a) and punishable under Section 20 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, among other counts.

    (NAN)

  • Use EFCC to recover N17.5b bond proceed, lawmakers tell Okpebholo

    Use EFCC to recover N17.5b bond proceed, lawmakers tell Okpebholo

    Lawmakers in Edo State House of Assembly have given nod to Governor Monday Okpebholo to work with relevant anti-graft agencies to recover N17.5billion from two Escrow agents, Meristen Trustees Ltd and Emerging Africa Trustees Ltd.

    The N17.5billion was the balance of the N25billion former Governor Godwin Obaseki raised from the capital market to invest in Radisson Blu Hotel.

    Besides the funds, the lawmakers also asked Governor Okpebholo to recover the complete statement of account.

    Both agents were present at the investigative panel set up by the assembly to look into ownership and funding of Radisson Blu Hotel.

    They were appointed by former Governor Godwin Obaseki to oversee transfer of Radisson Blu Hotel to Hospitality Investment Management Company.

    In the report submitted by the panel, it said the Escrow agreement was not executed by the supposed Escrow agents, thus invalidating the agreement and that the supposed investor failed to meet up with the payment schedule in the ‘defective Escrow agreement.’

    It said no kobo from the N10billion paid by the investors entered the state government coffers.

    Besides recovery of the N17.5billion, the assembly asked Governor Okpebholo to retake full and total control of the hotel.

    READ ALSO: Street naming racket

    It said the state government did not receive a kobo for the hotel and title to the hotel was never transferred from the state government to either Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) or the Hospitality Investment and Management Company (HIMC).

    “That Edo State Government should contract competent hands to complete the renovation of the hotel and take steps to put the hotel to use for the benefit of the good people of Edo State in particular and the world in general.

    “That Edo State Government should immediate revoke the fraudulent Certificate of Occupancy to the property issued in the name of Hospitality Investment and Management Company Limited and revert same to Edo State Government that purchased the property.

    “That Edo State Government should initiate legal action and work with relevant anti-graft agencies to retrieve the complete statement of account and the balance of the Seventeen Billion, Five Hundred Million Naira (N17,500,000,000.00) Bond proceeds still in the possession of Escrow agents, Meristen Trustees Limited and Emerging Africa Trustees Limited.”

  • EFCC: Nigeria’s own Sphinx

    EFCC: Nigeria’s own Sphinx

    Preamble

    Sophocles, a Greek playwright and dramatist of renown who lived between 496 and 406 B.C produced a tragic play entitled Oedipus Rex in 411 B.C. The play has drawn tremendous ovation from literary men and women through the centuries not only for its wonderful setting but also for the allusive purpose it has served since then.

    In the play, we learn of a curse that fell on the land of Thebes (a capital city in ancient Greece). On the land not only were people sick and dying in quick succession with the cattle being afflicted by an epidemic of rinderpest but even the crops were blighted. At that time, Oedipus was the King.

    Our concern here is not how Oedipus became the King or what later became of him. The allusion we want to draw here is that when Oedipus was young he saved Thebes from a similar curse: the depredation of the monstrous sphinx (a winged monster with a woman’s head and a lion’s body).

    When Oedipus was young a sphinx took her permanent seat on a rock by the main road that divided the city into two. This sphinx had a riddle which she put across to every passer-by and she promptly devoured anyone who could not solve the riddle. For a very long time, the city of Thebes remained under the plague of this sphinx who was feeding fat on the flesh and blood of living things in the city. As a result, many people took to hunger strike while many more embarked on a permanent seclusion. That was the situation in Thebes until the young Oedipus suddenly emerged as a hero of his time by solving the riddle of the sphinx. The sphinx thereby, in despair, leaped from her rock seat and dashed out her life.

    Thus, the veil of curse was lifted on the city of Thebes while Oedipus was immortalized as the saviour of the Thebesians.

    Today, Nigeria is masquerading in the cloak of a similar spell. The only difference is that while the Thebesians of yore were consciously aware of their plight and were desperately making efforts to find a solution to it the Nigerians of the 21st century remain largely unbothered.

    For almost the whole length of her life as a country, Nigeria has advertently lived with a self imposed sphinx without any serious attempt to eliminate it.

    Corruption is Nigeria’s own sphinx today. This sphinx has grown into such a monster that it is almost becoming impossible to conquer. For more than a decade since 1999, two statutory bodies have been set up to curb the scourge of corruption in Nigeria. One is Independent Corrupt Practices and related offences Commission (ICPC). The other is Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Both bodies were established for the same purpose through different modalities.

    Subsequent to that of the ICPC, the establishment of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2003 was rather in response to the pressure from the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering which named Nigeria as one of the 23 non-cooperative countries in the international community’s efforts to fight money laundering than the government’s self-consciousness and determination to fight corruption.

    Although some individuals and groups believed that fighting corruption was a potent means of developing the country, the behaviour of the governments at the federal and state levels did not suggest an all out support for Commission. This is understandable because most of the people suspected to be massively involved in corruption were government officials including some State Governors.

    By September 2006, the EFCC had had 31 of Nigeria ‘s 36 state governors under investigation for corruption. Most of these Governors appeared indifferent despite the negative publicity about them in the media. In December 2007, the Nigerian Federal Government, after extensive investigations by EFCC and other organizations, cleared the Vaswani brothers who had been deported from Nigeria for suspected corruption of any wrongdoing and invited them back into the country.

    Leading Nigerian daily newspapers reported the facts of their clearance quoting text from Federal Government’s issued directives. In April 2008, the EFCC began investigations into the activities of the daughter of the former Nigerian President, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello over an alleged corrupt utilization of N10 million ($100,000) from previous year’s unspent funds of the Ministry of Health. Also charged was the then Health Minister Professor Adenike Grange and her deputy over an alleged stealing over N30 million from the ministry’s unspent funds of the previous year. Investigations were carried out but nobody was convicted. Some of the affected persons remain as government functionaries either in the executive or legislative wing of the government. There were many other cases of the like.

    This development threw a new dimension into the whole idea of establishing supposed independent bodies to check corruption in the country and raised a big question on the intention behind it. Thus, people became suspicious of the government’s intention to fight corruption even as they considered the exercise as a political witch-hunt strategically used by the ruling party against opponents. And for this reason, the international community did not see any seriousness on the part of Nigerian government in fighting corruption. The government’s hand in glove about funding EFCC and its counterparts further strengthened the suspicion.

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    It was in this melee that a change of guards occurred at the topmost echelon of the EFCC and a woman, Chief (Mrs) Farida Mzamber Waziri, emerged as the new Chairperson of the Commission and was sworn into office on June 6, 2008. On assumption of office, Mrs. Waziri said emphatically that she would step on toes. But she prayed God to guide her against stepping on innocent toes. And ever since, the Commission’s website has continued to contain a long list of the country’s most wanted criminals while the Chairperson has since proved her mettle as a woman of substance.

    Going by her published profile, Mrs. Waziri has all it takes constitutionally and educationally as well as experience to revolutionize the anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria. And she is generally considered the ideal choice for the post of the Chairman.

    Although the Commission, under her Chairmanship has performed wonderfully well in tracking down and prosecuting many corrupt elements in the country and in recovering some of the loots, the citizenry believe that the woman would have performed better if she had full cooperation of the government. This is not just because the Commission seems to be handicapped by government’s inaction to bring those caught to book but also in campaigning seriously against corruption in all spheres of life especially through the mass media.

    Corruption is not about embezzlement of public funds alone. And fighting it should not be restricted only to government officials and agencies.

    So far, the Commission is a success story but that much is not known to most Nigerian and the international community because there is no media back up that can showcase that success. Professor Doris Akunyili succeeded so tremendously as the Director General of NAFDAC because she had the benefit of media publicity provided for in her Agency’s budget. This has not been applicable in the case of EFCC. The impression here is that giving that Agency the full power to operate is like providing the nose with which to hang those in government.

    If the Thebesian authorities did not cooperate with Oedipus, how could he have saved that city from the scourge of the sphinx? Nigerians should ask the government the same question in respect of EFCC. Without the government’s cooperation, is there any possibility of getting an Oedipus to defeat Nigeria ’s sphinx? This is a food for thought.

  • Malami’s unbecoming attacks on EFCC

    Malami’s unbecoming attacks on EFCC

    By Stanley Ebube

    The recent public posturing and proxy attacks directed at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, are profoundly troubling and entirely unbecoming of a man who once occupied the highest legal office in the land.

    Mr. Malami is not an ordinary citizen unfamiliar with the workings of law enforcement or the demands of due process. As Attorney-General of the Federation, he was the chief law officer of Nigeria, custodian of the rule of law, and supervisor – directly or indirectly – of the very institutions he now seeks to delegitimise because he has been invited for questioning.

    It is therefore disturbing that instead of honouring the terms of his bail and submitting himself to lawful investigation, Mr. Malami has chosen the path of public sympathy-seeking, insinuations, and indirect attacks on the EFCC and its leadership. This conduct raises serious questions about the respect he once claimed to have for institutions he is now defending.

    Even more concerning is the reported demand by Mr. Malami that the EFCC Chairman should recuse himself from the matter. Such a request, coming at this stage and under these circumstances, smacks of intimidation, forum shopping, and an attempt to bend institutions to personal convenience – tactics that undermine public confidence in the justice system.

    Mr. Malami knows – better than most Nigerians – that investigation is not persecution, that invitation is not conviction, and that no suspect reserves the right to dictate the composition of an investigative body simply because he once wielded power. The law does not recognise pedigree, former office, or seniority at the bar as shields against accountability.

    As Attorney-General, Mr. Malami presided over prosecutions, gave legal backing for arrests, and defended detentions under far less scrutiny. He cannot now turn around to question the legitimacy of the same processes simply because the searchlight has turned in his direction.

    Nigeria’s democracy rests on a sacred but straightforward principle: no one is above the law. Not ministers. Not senior advocates. Not former Attorneys-General. When powerful individuals attempt to weaken institutions through noise, proxies, or procedural gamesmanship, they do violence to that principle.

    Mr. Malami owes the nation, the legal profession, and his own legacy a better response, one grounded in humility, compliance with lawful authority, and respect for due process. If he believes in his innocence, the proper place to assert it is before investigators and the courts, not in the court of public opinion.

    Stanley Ebube, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.

  • EFCC arrests herbalists with fake $3.4m, 280,000 euros in Osun, Lagos

    EFCC arrests herbalists with fake $3.4m, 280,000 euros in Osun, Lagos

    Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) have uncovered huge counterfeit $3, 430, 000 and 280, 000 euros in possession of a five-member syndicate arrested for allegedly swindling one Halima Sanni of N26, 550, 000.

    The herbalists – Akingbola Omotayo, Adeola Funsho Ogunrinde, Yahaya Amodu, Kubratu Babalola Olaitan (female) and Familola Sunday Olaitan – were arrested on December 7 and 8, this year at their shrines in Osun and Lagos states, following a surveillance and intelligence on their fraudulent activities

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    According to the agency’s Head, Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale, in a statement yesterday, investigation indicated that the suspects were allegedly defrauding unsuspecting individuals of their legitimate earnings under the pretence of providing spiritual cleansing and solutions to various ailments.

    They also allegedly assured their victims of their powers to conjure several currency notes which must be cleaned up by a genie through spiritual sacrifice before spending the money. They did these by hypnotising their victims to provide money for the sacrifice.

    Other items recovered from them include two exotic cars and mobile phones.

    Oyewale said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

  • EFCC uncovers $3.43m, €280,000 fake currency, arrests five-man syndicate in Ibadan Zone

    EFCC uncovers $3.43m, €280,000 fake currency, arrests five-man syndicate in Ibadan Zone

    Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have uncovered a large cache of counterfeit foreign currencies valued at $3.43 million and €280,000 from a five-member syndicate accused of defrauding a victim of N26.55 million.

    The suspects, identified as herbalists Akingbola Omotayo, Adeola Funsho Ogunrinde, Yahaya Amodu, Kubratu Babalola Olaitan, and Familola Sunday Olaitan, were arrested on December 7 and 8, 2025, at their shrines in Osun and Lagos states following intelligence-led surveillance of their alleged fraudulent activities.

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    In a statement on Wednesday, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly swindled unsuspecting victims under the guise of offering spiritual cleansing and remedies for various ailments.

    Oyewale explained that the syndicate also allegedly claimed to possess powers to conjure large sums of money, which they told victims had to be spiritually cleansed by a genie through sacrifices before being spent. Victims were reportedly hypnotised into providing money for the supposed sacrifices.

    He added that two exotic vehicles and several mobile phones were recovered from the suspects during the operation.

    Oyewale said the suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.