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Tag: EFCC

  • EFCC arraigns businessman, firm over alleged N23m theft in Lagos

    EFCC arraigns businessman, firm over alleged N23m theft in Lagos

    The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Okotie Eboh, Ikoyi, on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, arraigned a businessman, Oti Jonathan Idowu, before Justice O.A. Okunuga of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, for allegedly stealing a total sum of N23 million.

    Idowu was docked with his company, Boundless Multi Service Solution Nigeria Limited, on an 11-count charge bordering on stealing.

    One of the charges alleged that Idowu and his company, on March 30, 2021, stole N5 million belonging to one Nneoma Okebugwu, an offence said to violate Section 278(1)(f) and punishable under Section 285(1) of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2011.

    Another count accused the defendants of unlawfully taking the sum of N3 million on July 24, 2020, property of Umar Lukmon Agbomhere, obtained through one Umaru Salmot.

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    The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges.

    Following the plea, prosecution counsel A.M. Dambuwa requested a date for trial and applied for the remand of the first defendant in a correctional facility.

    Defence counsel I.O. Lala informed the court of a pending bail application and sought a date for its hearing.

    Justice Okunuga adjourned the matter to December 3, 2025, for hearing of the bail application, noting that the date for commencement of trial would also be set on that day.

    The court ordered that Idowu be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.

  • Firm faults EFCC’s public notice

    Firm faults EFCC’s public notice

    Chappal Energies has faulted the public notice issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declaring its Managing Director, Mr Ufoma Immanuel, wanted.

    The Nigerian-owned energy company said there is a court injunction preventing the anti-graft agency from inviting or arresting its MD.

    The EFCC had in a public notice on Wednesday declared Immanuel wanted for an alleged case of obtaining money by false pretence and forgery.

    But Chappal Energies said enforcement actions under Nigerian law are governed by established procedures that require reasonable attempts at direct engagement through official channels before issuing or acting on a warrant.

    “To our knowledge, no attempt was made to engage Mr. Immanuel or the Company through these channels prior to the issuance of the notice, which creates the unfortunate impression of a public escalation where standard procedures were readily available,” the company said, in statement on Friday.

    The statement, which was made available to The Nation, said both Mr. Immanuel and Chappal Energies remain fully reachable through their established official addresses, phone lines and electronic contacts, all of which are publicly available.

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    It, however, reiterated that “For the avoidance of doubt, Chappal Energies vehemently refutes all allegations cited by the EFCC. The claims are entirely without merit and stand in direct contradiction to the documented facts already before the court.

     “Chappal Energies and its Directors have recently faced coordinated pressures linked to an on-going civil dispute. These developments ultimately led to an order by Hon. Justice J.E. Obanor of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.”

    According to the statement, Justice Obanor, on 11 September 2025, granted an interlocutory injunction restraining the EFCC and other listed respondents from inviting, questioning, arresting, detaining or otherwise acting against Mr. Immanuel or Chappal Energies.

     “This order remains in force and as such, the circumstances surrounding this public notice, despite a binding court order, create the impression of external actors seeking public spectacle and mischief rather than adherence to legal due process,” Chappal Energies said,

    The company said it continues to respect the roles of all statutory institutions, including the EFCC and remain committed to full cooperation with all relevant authorities through the proper legal channels.

     “However, we will pursue every available legal and formal avenue to challenge these allegations and to protect the integrity of the Company and its leadership,” Chappal Energies said.

    The company stated that its operations remain uninterrupted, and its leadership remains focused on delivering long-term value in line with its commitments to partners, regulators and stakeholders.

  • How Yahoo son buried mother alive for money ritual, by EFCC

    How Yahoo son buried mother alive for money ritual, by EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has expressed outrage over the attitude of a boy who buried his mother alive to get rich.

    The Acting Zonal Director of the Commission for Makurdi Zonal Directorate, ACE 1, Effa Imo Okim, made this known during a visit to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council.

    The NUJ Chairman, Bemdoo Ugber, expressed concern that the Commission appears to be turning away from prosecuting public corrupt officials but has shifted attention to the war against Yahoo, Yahoo boys.

    The Zonal Director disagreed that the Commission turned focus away from the corrupt public officials and faced the criminals called Yahoo boys.

    According to the Director, since the boys have become ritualists, making life difficult for peace-loving people, the resolve for sanity has made the anti-graft agency to face the syndicate to end the threat.

    Cautioning that Yahoo boys patronise ritualists for the powers to make money, the EFCC boss said in the process, they target their parents and kill for acquisition of wealth.

    Wondering what future holds for the generation, Okim lamented what he explained, had been the trending video in which one of the Yahoo boys killed his mother to make money.

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    Advising the public, especially parents to observe cautiously the behaviour and activities of their children, the Zonal Director shared with the media family what he said, was seen in the video.

    According to him, when the boy got admission to the higher institution, he joined a group of bad boys who took him to ritualists for magical powers of wealth acquisition.

    The EFCC official said one of the conditions the ritualists gave to him was to bury his mother alive.

    In fulfilment of the condition, the EFCC boss stated that the boy came on holiday and took time to dig the grave and that after completion, his mother not suspecting anything wrong but feeling safe in the hands of her son, relaxed.

    The EFCC boss lamented that the boy hit his mother’s mouth with a heavy object. “Not only that, he tied her, dragged her into the grave and covered up with soil in compliance with demands of the ritualists.

    The EFCC insisted that activities of the Yahoo boys were getting out of hand, adding that efforts were being made to reverse the trend.

  • EFCC arraigns dismissed official over alleged theft of N22m exhibit

    EFCC arraigns dismissed official over alleged theft of N22m exhibit

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a dismissed officer and former exhibit keeper of its Kaduna Zonal Directorate, Polycarp Andrew, at a Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kaduna.

    Andrew allegedly stole over N22 million exhibit kept in his care.

    The anti-graft commission, under its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, arraigned the former officials before Justice A. Bello on a sixth-count charge of alleged criminal breach of trust and stealing of over N22 million exhibit

    Andrew was arrested in Taraba State after he allegedly stole the exhibit while holding sway as the exhibit keeper of the Kaduna directorate.

    He absconded after investigations flagged him as the alleged culprit.

    One of the charges reads: “That you, Andrew Polycary, being a public servant (Exhibit Keeper) in the employment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Kaduna Zonal Directorate, between January 26 to October 11, 2023 in Kaduna within the judicial division of the High Court of Kaduna State and in such capacity entrusted with the sum of $11,900 in equivalent aggregate sum of N10,936,338.26 for safe keeping did commit criminal breach of trust in respect of the said sum of money an offence punishable under section 300 of Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.”

    Andrew was arraigned on May 5, 2025 on a six-count charge of alleged criminal breach of trust.

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    When the charge was read to him, he pleaded not guilty to the offence preferred against him by the EFCC.

    The development prompted the prosecuting EFCC lawyer, H. M. Mohammed, to pray the court for a date for the commencement of the trial.

    When the matter came up for hearing yesterday, Mohammed informed the court of his readiness to present two witnesses comprising an officer of the EFCC and an official from the Opay payment platform. 

    But the defence lawyer, D. B. Kwajafa, informed the court that he was not ready for trial.

    The lawyer argued that his client was entitled to fair hearing and adequate time to prepare for his defence. 

    Kwajafa announced that he was only recently served with a flash drive containing the video recording of the extra-judicial statement of his client when he was arrested and sought an adjournment to study the statement. 

    Opposing Kwajafa’s application for an adjournment,  Mohammed told the court that the flash drive in question was not relevant at this time of hearing of the case and urged the court to discountenance his argument.

    After listening to both parties, Justice Bello adjourned the case till December 11 for further hearing.

  • Alleged exhibit theft: Court adjourns ex-EFCC officer’s trial till Dec. 11

    Alleged exhibit theft: Court adjourns ex-EFCC officer’s trial till Dec. 11

    Justice A. Bello of the Kaduna State High Court has adjourned the trial of Polycarp Andrew, a dismissed staff of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) until Dec 11 for hearing.

    Justice Bello on Wednesday adjourned the case.

    At the opening of the trial, EFCC’s counsel, H.M Mohammed, informed the court of his readiness to present two witnesses comprising an officer of the EFCC and an official from Opay bank.

    Defence counsel, D. B Kwajafa, upon announcing appearance, informed the court that he was not ready for trial.

    He argued that the defendant was entitled to fair hearing and adequate time to prepare for his defence.

    He pleaded that he was recently served with a flash drive containing the video recording of the extra-judicial statement of the defendant when he was arrested.

    He therefore sought an adjournment to study the statement.

    Mohammed, in countering Kwajafa’s application for adjournment, told the court that the flash drive in question was not relevant at this time of hearing of the case.

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    After listening to both counsels, the judge adjourned the case .

    News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), reports that Andrew was arraigned on May 5, on six-count charges bordering on criminal breach of trust.

    He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

    Andrew was arrested in Taraba after he allegedly stole over N22 million from the exhibit of Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, while holding sway as the exhibit keeper of the Directorate.

    He absconded after investigations flagged him as the alleged stealer.

    The offences is punishable under the Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017.(NAN)

  • Why EFCC declared Sylva wanted

    Why EFCC declared Sylva wanted

    • How $35m ‘deal’ was hatched

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday declared former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and ex-Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, wanted over an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257.

    The amount is said to be part of the funds injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a refinery in Bayelsa State.

    But Sylva has dismissed the allegations, describing them as another persecution and smear campaign by his political enemies, just as he claimed there was no due process by the EFCC in declaring him wanted.

    A statement by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Dele Oyewale, said the commission on November 6 secured a warrant for Sylva’s arrest from a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

    The order, granted by Justice D. I. Dipeolu, directed that “a warrant is issued to the applicant or any officer of the commission, police, or any law enforcement officer for the arrest of the respondent for the purpose of bringing him before the commission to answer to the criminal offence he is alleged to have committed”.

    The EFCC had grilled the former Executive Secretary of the Board, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, over alleged mismanagement of the Brass Project funds.

    The investigation followed the arrest of the Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, Mr. Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, for alleged misappropriation, money laundering, and diversion of public funds. Akindele, the promoter of the Energy Infrastructure Park in Okpoama Community, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, reportedly initiated the project idea and sought NCDMB’s support through counterpart funding.

    Investigations revealed that under Wabote’s leadership, NCDMB released $35 million to Akindele’s company to develop a 2,000-barrel-per-day refinery, jetty, gas plant, power plant, data centre, and tank farm at the Brass Free Trade Zone (FTZ), Okpoama. However, since the disbursement of funds in December 2020, the project has allegedly recorded little or no tangible progress.

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    The EFCC’s preliminary findings indicated that NCDMB, during Wabote’s tenure between 2016 and 2023, financed at least 17 different projects, including the Brass Energy Park project now under investigation. Sylva served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources from 2019 to 2023, a period during which the project and related funding were reportedly under review.

    Sylva’s camp: No invitation, but he’ll honour EFCC

    Reacting to the EFCC’s declaration, Sylva’s media aide, Julius Bokoru, in a statement, faulted the manner in which the anti-graft agency announced the development. He described the EFCC’s approach as “unceremonious,” alleging that there was no formal communication to his principal before the declaration was made public.

    Bokoru criticised what he termed a “sudden digital proclamation” by the EFCC, suggesting it was designed to inflame public sentiment and sustain a political witch-hunt against the former governor.

    “It is, to say the least, curious that what was once whispered in corridors as a ‘coup matter’ has now quietly metamorphosed into a financial allegation. The same shadowy forces that once sought to criminalise Sylva politically now appear to have reinvented themselves as fiscal crusaders,” Bokoru stated.

    He alleged that Sylva was the target of a “coordinated and calculated political onslaught,” adding that his boss’s current travails mirrored a deliberate attempt to diminish his influence.

    Confirming that he had not spoken directly with Sylva, Bokoru maintained that the former minister would honour any official invitation from the EFCC in line with his respect for due process and lawful institutions. He, however, noted that Sylva was currently undergoing medical check-ups in the United Kingdom.

    “Chief Timipre Sylva has clean hands. He has not diverted a single dollar, nor has he betrayed the trust reposed in him by the Nigerian people. The refinery project in question is a legitimate, transparent, and verifiable undertaking subject to due process and traceable documentation,” the statement added.

    Bokoru urged supporters and well-wishers to remain calm, insisting that truth would ultimately prevail. “Those engineering this relentless campaign of defamation will not prevail for light, by its very nature, must always outshine darkness,” he added.

  • EFCC returns N42.5m to 70-year-old widow defrauded by banker

    EFCC returns N42.5m to 70-year-old widow defrauded by banker

    • Justice still works in Nigeria, says elated septuagenarian

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has returned the sum of N42.5 million to a 70-year-old widow and retiree, Mrs. Margret Taye Odofin, who was defrauded by her account and investment officer in a new generation bank.

    The money recovered from the suspect, Mrs. Kehinde Olawale Yusuf, was presented to the victim in Kaduna by the Acting Director of the EFCC Kaduna Zonal Command, Bawa Kaltungo, on behalf of the Commission’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede.

    According to the EFCC, Mrs. Odofin had petitioned the Commission in December 2024 after discovering that her banker had diverted her savings.

    She alleged that Yusuf lured her into a fake investment scheme in 2020 with promise of a quarterly return of N1.7 million, only for her to later discover that N47 million had been siphoned from her account and transferred to multiple destinations without authorization.

    The suspect, who allegedly fled to the United Kingdom after the fraud was uncovered, was tracked through EFCC investigation, leading to the recovery of part of the stolen funds.

    An emotional Mrs. Odofin, while receiving the recovered money, broke down in tears, praising the EFCC and its leadership for restoring her hope.

    “I cannot believe this is happening. When we reported the case in the UK, we were told the offence was committed in Nigeria and that only the EFCC could help,” she said.

    Read Also: EFCC returns N42.5m to 70-year-old widow defrauded by banker

    “Today, God has used the Commission to wipe away my tears.

    “I waited for years to get my hard-earned money back.

    “I will campaign for the EFCC anywhere because they have proven that justice still works in Nigeria.”

    Kaltungo, who represented the EFCC Chairman, said the recovery reflects the Commission’s renewed resolve to ensure justice for victims of financial crimes.

    “We appreciate you for trusting the Commission.

    “This recovery demonstrates our professionalism and capacity to resolve cases within our mandate,” he said.

    He reaffirmed that under Olukoyede’s leadership, the EFCC remains committed to pursuing financial criminals and ensuring victims get justice, no matter how long it takes.

  • EFCC arrests three suspected vote buyers in Anambra governorship election

    EFCC arrests three suspected vote buyers in Anambra governorship election

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested three individuals suspected of buying votes during Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra State.

    The suspects—Emeka Ilokasia, Nwachuwu Loretta, and Emuka Chuwudi—were apprehended in different parts of the state while allegedly attempting to influence the electoral process through vote buying.

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    Ilokasia was arrested at Ward 2, Njikoka Local Government Area; Loretta was taken into custody at Ward 2(008), Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area; while Chuwudi was apprehended at Umunachi Village, Dunukofia Local Government Area.

    The EFCC confirmed that all three suspects will be charged to court once investigations are concluded.

  • EFCC returns N42.5m to 70-year-old widow defrauded by banker

    EFCC returns N42.5m to 70-year-old widow defrauded by banker

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has returned N42.5 million to a 70-year-old widow and retiree, Mrs. Margret Taye Odofin, who was defrauded by her account and investment officer in a new generation bank.

    The money, recovered from the suspect, Mrs. Kehinde Olawale Yusuf, was presented to the victim in Kaduna by the Acting Director of the EFCC Kaduna Zonal Command, Bawa Kaltungo, on behalf of the Commission’s Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede.

    According to the EFCC, Mrs. Odofin had petitioned the Commission in December 2024 after discovering the banker had diverted her savings

    . She alleged that Yusuf lured her into a fake investment scheme in 2020 with a promise of a quarterly return of N1.7 million, only for her to later discover that N47 million had been siphoned from her account and transferred to multiple destinations without authorisation.

    The suspect, who allegedly fled to the United Kingdom after the fraud was uncovered, was tracked through EFCC investigations, leading to the recovery of part of the stolen funds.

    An emotional Mrs. Odofin, while receiving the recovered money, broke down in tears of joy, praising the EFCC and its leadership for restoring her hope.

    Read Also: EFCC seeks public ownership of anti-corruption fight

    “I cannot believe this is happening. When we reported the case in the UK, we were told the offence was committed in Nigeria and that only the EFCC could help,” she said.

     “Today, God has used the Commission to wipe away my tears. I waited for years to get my hard-earned money back. I will campaign for the EFCC anywhere because they have proven that justice still works in Nigeria.”

    Kaltungo, who represented the EFCC Chairman, said the recovery reflects the Commission’s renewed resolve to ensure justice for victims of financial crimes.

    “We appreciate you for trusting the Commission. This recovery demonstrates our professionalism and capacity to resolve cases within our mandate,” he said.

    He reaffirmed that under Olukoyede’s leadership, the EFCC remains committed to pursuing financial criminals and ensuring victims get justice, no matter how long it takes.

  • EFCC seeks public ownership of anti-corruption fight

    EFCC seeks public ownership of anti-corruption fight

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has called for greater public ownership of the fight against corruption and financial crimes, stressing that the battle to rid Nigeria of graft must not be left to the Commission and other security agencies alone.

    This call was made on Thursday at a one-day capacity-building workshop organized for media practitioners and civil society organisations at the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.

    Speaking at the event, the Head of the Media and Publicity Unit of the Commission, Mr. Dele Oyewale, emphasised that corruption has become a deeply rooted national problem that requires collective responsibility and citizen participation to overcome.

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    “There’s a need for public ownership in the fight against corruption and financial crimes. Every Nigerian should see this fight as one for all Nigerians, not just for the EFCC,” Oyewale said.

    He lamented that corruption has continued to cripple Nigeria’s development, linking it to the country’s low Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and declining life expectancy rate.

    “It’s unfortunate that because of corruption, Nigeria’s GDP has remained very low, with the average life expectancy of men and women standing at 49 and 53 years respectively. When you trace the foundation of all these problems- poor infrastructure, weak institutions, and high poverty rate – you’ll find corruption at the root,” he noted.

    Earlier in his opening remarks, the Zonal Director of the EFCC, Enugu Zonal Directorate, CE Daniel Isei, said the workshop was part of the commission’s efforts to strengthen collaboration with the media and civil society in building a preventive and participatory approach to tackling corruption.