EFCC Nigeria

EFCC Arraigns Ex-CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar for Alleged N15.5m Fraud The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, July 9, 2026, arraigned Danladi Yakubu Umar, former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal before Justice U. P. Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja for fraud. The defendant who was also the Tribunal’s Tenders Board chairman was arraigned on a four-count charge, bordering on nepotism, conferment of corrupt advantage to self, to the tune of N15,587,833.76 (Fifteen Million, Five Hundred and Eighty-Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Three Naira, Seventy-Six Kobo). Count one of the charge reads: "That you, Danladi Yakubu Umar, while serving as the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal and Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal Tenders Board, on or about the 5th day of October, 2021, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did confer upon yourself a corrupt and unfair advantage by causing the sum of N5,500,000.00 (Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira only) to be paid to your wife, Zulaihatu Danladi Umar, through her Keystone Bank Account No. 6031167105 by Kurchmives International Limited, a sub-contractor under the contract awarded by the Code of Conduct Tribunal to Momanaf Global Ventures Limited for Internal and External painting of the headquarters of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and punishable under the same section." Count two reads: "That you, Danladi Yakubu Umar, while serving as the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal and Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal Tenders Board, on or about the 25th day of January, 2024, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did confer upon yourself a corrupt and unfair advantage by causing the sum of N6,000,000.00 (Six Million Naira only) to be paid to your wife, Zulaihatu Danladi Umar, through her Zenith Bank Account No. 2085458208 by Portal Realities Limited a sister Company of JTF Global Links Limited, a company which was awarded the contract for the digitalization of the Code of Conduct Tribunal management records by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and punishable under the same section." He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him, prompting the prosecution counsel, Christopher Mshelia, to ask the court for a trial date and to remand the defendant in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, while the defence counsel, S. Edward applied for the defendant’s bail. The judge adjourned the matter till July 15, 2026, for hearing on the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.

Court Jails Two for N14.8m Fraud in Maiduguri Justice B.T Zannah of the Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri, on Monday, July 13, 2026 convicted and sentenced two to three years imprisonment. The convicts are: Babagana Bukar and Hauwa Chabri. The convicts were arraigned on Monday, July 13, 2026 by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a separate one -count charge for the offence of criminal misappropriation to the tune of N14,800,000.00 (Fourteen  Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira). The charge against Bukar reads: "That you, Babagana Bukar sometimes in 2025 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, dishonestly misappropriated and converted to your own use the aggregate sum of N8,800,000.00 (Eight Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira)  money belonging to Bunu Gambo Liman, being amount given to you through Babakura Umar and Bello Adamu for the supplies of 100 bags of IRS flours and 50 bags of BUA sugar which you converted to your own personal use without his consent thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 296 of the Penal Code Law and Other Matters connected therewith and punishable under Section 297 of the same law." The charge  for Chabri reads: "That you Hauwa Chabri, sometimes in 2025 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N6,000,000.00 (Six Million Naira),  being amount belonging to Mohammed Samaila Yakubu for the supply of beef and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 296 of the Borno State Penal Code Law and Other Matter connected therewith and punishable under section 297 of the same law." The defendants pleaded 'guilty' to the charges when it was read to them. Following which, prosecution counsel, A.D Abdulmalik prayed the court to convict them accordingly. In the same vein, counsel to the first defendant,  S. Mustapha pleaded for leniency and informed the court that the convict has fully restituted the petitioner. Mustapha further urged the court to temper justice with mercy upon the convict and sentence him with an option of fine. While the second defendant pleaded for leniency and told the court that she promised to restitute the petitioner. Thereafter, Justice Zannah sentenced and convicted Bukar to one year imprisonment with an option of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. While Chabri was convicted and sentenced to restitute the petitioner with the sum of N6,000,000.00 (Six Million Naira) or in default,   serve two years imprisonment. Bukar's journey to the correctional facility started when collected the sum of N8.8m for the supply of 100 bags of IRS Flours, 50 bags of BUA sugar and thereby diverted the funds for his personal use. While Chabri was to supply beef worth N6m and converted to her personal use.

Alleged €100m Fraud: Defendant's ill Health Stalls Trial of BFI Group, Others The trial of BFI Group Corporation and seven others before Justice M.S. Idris of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT,  High Court, Jabi, could not continue on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, following the sudden ill-health of the third defendant, Ozor Chidi Jerry in court. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting the company alongside Reuben M. Jaja, Ozor Chidi Jerry, David Femi James, Imeobong Jumbo Udom, Adeolu Edward, Emeka Emmanuel Okorie, Johnson Gabriel (now at large) on amended five-count charges to the tune of €100 million (One Hundred Million Euros). At the Tuesday proceeding, prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, told the court that the matter was for the cross-examination of the First Prosecution Witness PW1, Babajide Adesanya.  However, no sooner had the cross-examination begun than the third defendant fell ill, resulting in the abrupt abortion of the process. Count one of the five charges against the defendant reads: "That you, BFI Group Corporation, Reuben M. Jaja, Ozor Chidi Jerry, David Femi James, Imeobong Jumbo Udom, Adeolu Edward and Emeka Emmanuel Okorie and Johnson Gabriel (now at large) and other persons (at large) between the 12th of August, 2020 and March, 2021 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, conspired among themselves to induce the Central Bank of Nigeria to confer benefit on BFI Group Corporation by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 8(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act." Justice Idris adjourned the matter to October 21 and 22, 2026 for continuation of cross examination and hearing.

In the course of the proceedings, counsel to the first defendant, Chris .A. Umar, SAN, informed the court that he has a motion on notice, filed on July 17, 2026, seeking the leave of the court for Ishaku to travel to Dubai for medical check-up and surgery. With no objection from the prosecution, Justice Oriji granted the request for Ishaku to embark on a medical trip to Dubai and adjourned the matter till October 5, 2026 for continuation of examination of the testimony of the PW3.

Ishaku’s Alleged N27b Fraud: Witness Gives Details of How Funds for Christmas Grains Were taken from Taraba LGs The Third Prosecution Witness, PW3, Taiwo Johns, in the trial of the former Taraba State governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, alongside the former permanent secretary in the state’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, narrated before Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Abuja, how local governments in the state were made to transfer funds to his company’s account for the purchase and distribution of Christmas grains. The transfers, made to his P3 Cornerstone account, he said, were on the instruction and directives of his bosses, Yero, the second defendant, Babangida Hassan, the director of finance and John Columba, the chief cashier. “All the money paid to P3 Cornerstone was based on the directives of my boss, Alhaji Bello Yero, the permanent secretary; Babangida Hassan, the director of finance and John Columba, the chief cashier, who was my immediate boss,” he said. He disclosed that N30 million was paid into his account by Donga Local Government on July 1, 2019. “I can see a credit of N30 million from Donga LG in Exhibit 9, my credit balance as at the time the money entered was N2 million. After it entered, it became N32m. On the same day, July 1, 2019, a directive came from director of finance, Babangida Hassan that I should withdraw the N30 million in cash and I went to the bank with Dare Lawal and I handed over the money to him.” Lawal is the First Prosecution Witness, PW1. According to him, on July 3, 2019, he again, received a credit of N8 million from Donga LG and on July 5, 2019, manager’s cheque of N8 million was credited to his company’s account. On July 22, 2019, a manager’s cheque of N3 million from Yorro Local Government was credited to his company’s account. “The N3 million was withdrawn the same day by me. The same amount was handed over to the permanent secretary and I drove him to the Government House. “On July 24, 2019, Blessed Springs Modern Communication credited my account with N4.4 million. On that day, I reported to my superior, Babangida Hassan, the director of finance. On the same date, he gave an instruction on the account the money would be transferred to, which he said was a directive from above. “On the same July 24, 2019, there were two transfers of N10 million each, into the P3 Cornerstone account. I reported the same to my boss. The two N10 million was paid into my account by the same person, Henrietta Meepatan, I withdrew N6 million, N5million and N1million,” he said. Further in his testimony, he disclosed that Gashaka Local Government deposited a manager’s cheque of N35 million into P3 Cornerstone account, and that on July 29, 2019, Donga Local Government issued a cheque of N40.5 million. “On the same date, Zing Local Government credited P3 Cornerstone with the sum of N35 million. The three local governments paid a total sum of N110 million into the account of P3 Cornerstone. “I withdrew the same amount and the permanent secretary came to the bank with Dare Lawal and they confirmed it and collected it. On July 31, 2019, there was a transfer of N73 million into P3 Cornerstone by Gassol LGA. On that same day, Bali made a transfer of N40 million only to P3 Cornerstone. On September 3, 2019 Ardo Kola LG made a transfer of N40 million into P3 Cornerstone Nigeria Limited. On September 18, 2019, there were some deposits based on instructions. We had six cash deposits into the account by cashiers of six different local governments. They are, N8.5 million ; N9.5 million; N9 million; N8.9m ; N9.2m and N6.7m . The total amount was around N51.8million. Most of the money was sent to Blessed Springs account,”

Alleged N27b Fraud: Witness Reveals How N1.8b Meant for Christmas Grains in Taraba was Siphoned A third Prosecution Witness, PW3, in the trial l of former Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku alongside the former permanent Secretary in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero, on Monday, July 13, 2026, informed Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory , FCT,  High Court Abuja,  how       N1, 800, 000,  000, 000 (One Billion, Eight Hundred Million Naira), meant for the purchase of Christmas grains in Taraba State,  was  transferred into his company account from one of the Local Government Salary Transmission Accounts. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Ishaku and Yero on a 15-count charge  bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27,000,000,000.00 (Twenty-Seven Billion Naira). Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, the PW3, Taiwo Johns,   informed the court that the money was deposited into his P3 Cornerstone International Nigeria Limited account, based on the Directive of his boss, the second defendant; the Director of Finance and the Chief Cashier. “All the money paid to P3 Cornerstone was based on the directive of my boss,  Alhaji Bello Yero,   the permanent Secretary; Babangida Hassan, the Director of Finance and John Columba, the Chief Cashier, my immediate boss”, he said. He disclosed that the defendants transferred funds to his accounts sixty-nine times adding that “there are serial number, date of transaction, account number debited and account name, beneficiary account number, beneficiary account name and the amount.” He added that all the sixty-nine times the money was sent to his company account was from Gassol local government in the state. When asked by the prosecution counsel, if he had an idea of the amount the local government transferred into his account, the witness responded “the amount will be roughly about N1.7b to N1.8billion. On instruction of the Permanent Secretary, Bello Yero, Babangida Hassan,  the Director of Finance and John Columba,   the Chief Cashier.” “What did you do with the money?”,  the prosecution counsel asked. “I reported back to them that some money entered my account, then they  gave me further directives either to send it to Mr. Prince, that is PW2 or to withdraw some and after the withdrawal they came with Dare Lawal, PW1, he will confirm the money, and they will go with the money. Sometimes, Alhaji Bello Yero, the Permanent Secretary will come and take it to the government house. “How do you know he took the money to the government house?”, the counsel further asked “Sometimes I will carry him, the second defendant and drop him at the government house with the money in a Ghana Must Go bag, drop him and then go”,  the witness responded. He added that the money credited sixty-nine times into his account was from Gassol Local Government Salary Transmission Account adding that they  always used the account for salary, projects, revenue and other purposes. He said that they paid N100m into his P3 Cornerstone account on December 24, 2018, prepared by the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and authorised by the two signatories; the permanent Secretary and Director of Finance. The PW3 informed the court that the narration on the E-payment is for the payment of purchase of assorted grains to be distributed during Christmas and New Year on December 24, 2018. “Look at exhibit 9, see the last transaction on page 11 of exhibit 9, see the transaction on the 24 12 2018 what is it for?”, Jacob asked. “The last transaction is N100m, for the purchase of assorted grains for distribution during Christmas. Some of the money was withdrawn cash.  My lord,   you may wish to know that the account is a business account, I wait for instruction, so when the money came in, the N100 million was withdrawn by me all in cash, it was handed over to Dare Lawal by me”,  the witness said. He added that there was a cheque of N30m on page 3 of Exhibit 11 which is also paid to his company, P3 Cornerstone Account adding that the money was not used for the purpose of buying assorted grains for distribution during Christmas. “Did you buy any grain?”, the prosecution counsel asked. “No Sir”,  he responded Justice Oriji thereafter adjourned the matter to July 14, 2026, for continuation of trial.

Alleged N2b NEDC Fraud:  Again, Absence of Defendant Stalls Trial. The absence of the National Coordinator of Multi-Sectional Crisis Recovery Projects, MCRP, North East Development Commission, NEDC, Danjuma Mohammed on Thursday, June 25, 2026, stalled his trial before Justice K. N. Ogbonnaya of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT,  High Court, Zuba, Abuja. Justice Ogbonnaya who frowned at the absence of the defendant on two sittings consecutively without any provable reason before the court,   noted that there was no medical report before the court to show that the defendant was ill and receiving medical attention as the defence team claimed. The first defendant, Mohammed is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside Prince Achem and Aminu Alhaji (at large) on amended 54-count charge, bordering on conspiracy, false pretence, financial fraud and forgery to the tune of N2.2 billion. At Monday`s proceedings, prosecution counsel, Joshua Saidi informed the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed with the trial with its witnesses in court and ready to testify, while the defence counsel, Chuka Obidike informed the court that the first defendant was still undergoing surgery. He sought to tender his medical report before the court and requested for an adjournment. Also counsel to the second defendant, J.J. Usman, who said that he came prepared for the proceedings added that he became constrained when he heard from the counsel to the first defendant that his client was going to have a second surgery and likely to have the third due to complications in his health. The prosecution counsel,  in his response,  urged the court to discountenance the medical report and refuse the defence counsel’s prayer for adjournment as he was not in receipt of any report of the first defendant’s ill health to warrant his continued absence in court. “My lord, I apply that it should be on record that this is not the first time, this is the second time that our witnesses are coming all the way from the Northeast. As I speak, no written report from the first defendant has been brought to my attention nor has it been served on me. My lord, if we have gotten prior notice we won’t have bothered our witnesses to come from the Northeast. The implication now is that when this defendant jumps bail, we may not know who the surety is, therefore counsel is not in the position to tell the court the whereabouts of the first defendant. Therefore,  we submit that there is no reasonable excuse why the first defendant is not in court. In the circumstances, I apply for the revocation of his bail and the issuance of bench warrant against him and also a notice to the surety to show cause  why he will not forfeit the bail bond. We therefore urge your lordship to discountenance their excuses and accordingly grant our prayer,” he said. The judge, in her ruling, faulted the tendering of the medical report, as no trial proceeding was going on at the moment and no witness testifying or being cross-examined. With no such process going on in court, the judge stated the medical report cannot therefore, be tendered in evidence, but rather through an application made through the registrar of the court. “The application is misleading, as counsel did not serve the court with any medical report at the last adjourned date. The court is surprised at the counsel in this matter that they did not deem it fit to serve the court, when they know it should be served on the court. Even if an application is made at the Court of Appeal regarding bail, that doesn’t mean the defendant will jump bail at the lower court. As far as I am concerned, the whereabouts of the defendant is unknown to the court, the oral submission that he is due for a surgery is on the basis of hearsay, not verification. Nobody is receiving the application because the court is not doing a trial and no witness is testifying. The court has laid bare all that has transpired, however, the court will not revoke the bail, but exercise discretionary power not by the submission made by the counsel to the first defendant. The court will adjourn for the last time on the instance of the first defendant for now and the bail revocation will be placed in abeyance,” she said. She adjourned the matter till September 25,29, 2026 for continuation of trial.

EFCC Arraigns CEO for Alleged N16.8n Fraud in Enugu The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned one Ifeanyichukwu Ogbu, the Chief Executive Officer, Ski Hi-Entertainment before Justice Vincent C. Ezeugwu of the Enugu State High Court, sitting in Independence Layout, on a three-count charge bordering on issuance of dud cheque to the tune of N16, 847, 000 (Sixteen Million, Eight Hundred and Forty-Seven Thousand Naira). Count one of the charges reads: “That you, Ifeanyichukwu Ogbu, trading under name and style of Ski Hi-Entertainment, on or about the 9th day of August, 2024 in Enugu, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, issued a Zenith Bank Plc cheque number 00000211 dated 9th day of August, 2024 in the sum of Five Million, Five Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira (N5, 530, 000. 00) which upon presentation for payment within three months of issuance was dishonoured on the ground of insufficient funds in the account on which the cheque was drawn and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, Cap D11, Law of Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 1 (1) (b) (i) of the same Act”. The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him and in view of his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Michael Ikechukwu Ani prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, Enugu. The defence counsel, Chikelu Anya attempted to apply orally for his client's bail but was quickly reminded by the court that it is a court of records. Justice Ezeugwu thereafter adjourned the matter to July 16, 2026 for hearing of bail application while the defendant was released to Anya to be produced in court on the next adjourned date. The defendant was arrested following claims of Oby Onwuakor, the Sales/Front Office Manager of Ski Hi-Entertainment, on behalf of its management, that Ogbu made reservations for members of three Nigerian Premier Football League clubs and that after the expiration of their stay in the hotel, the entire bill accumulated to N17, 424, 600 (Seventeen Million, Four Hundred and Twenty-four Thousand, Six Hundred Naira). The defendant, according to Onwuakor, paid only N1, 000, 000. 00 (One Million Naira) and issued three cheques to them which upon presentation for payment, was dishonoured on the ground of insufficient funds in the account.

EFCC Secures Interim Forfeiture of Landed Property in Abuja   The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, July 13, 2026, secured an interim forfeiture of Plot 1, Sabon Gida, Cadastral Zone, Abuja.  The order was granted by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT,  High Court, Apo, Abuja, following an application filed by the Commission. Moving the motion, EFCC’s counsel, Samuel Ugwuegbulan, informed the court that the application was filed to preserve the property pending the conclusion of the investigation by the  EFCC. He also told the court that the application was supported by a 13-paragraph affidavit deposed to by one Ifeoma Ezire, who is an administrative staff in the Legal and Prosecution Department of the Commission. “My lord, we rely on all the provisions in the affidavit and we also filed a written address in support of this application which we seek to adopt as our argument in support of our application and we urge the court to grant the leave sought on the motion” he said. In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie ordered the interim forfeiture of the said property at Plot 1, Sabon Gida, Cadastral Zone, Abuja,  after carefully examining the affidavit brought by the EFCC.

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N10million Damages: EFCC Appeals Judgment Against Agunloye The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, against the judgment of Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Abuja, finding it liable for defaming former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye over a social media publication of an alleged $6billion Mambilla Power Project fraud. The Notice of Appeal was filed on Friday, July 10, 2026 by counsel to the EFCC, Wahab Shittu, SAN. In the appeal contained in Suit No: FCT/HC/CV/1199/2024, the EFCC expressed dissatisfaction with the “whole of the judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting at Maitama, Abuja, Coram: Hon. Justice Peter O. Kekemeke, delivered on the 8th day of July, 2026….” Specifically, the appeal was hinged on 11 grounds and four different orders. The orders the Commission is seeking in the appeal, are orders allowing the appeal, setting aside the whole of the judgment, dismissing Agunloye’s claim before the trial court in entirety and any other order the court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of the appeal. Justice Kekemeke had declared in his judgment that the EFCC’s publication on Agunloye was false, defamatory and injurious to the former Minister’s reputation and awarded N10 million in damages against the Commission. Shittu, in the appeal, also filed a stay of execution of the judgment of the trial court. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the appeal.

EFCC, NFIU Collaboration Earns Nigeria Global Award The collaboration between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, in the fight against financial crimes has earned Nigeria the UNODC–World Bank–Egmont Group Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) Initiative Award at the 32nd Egmont Group Plenary of Heads of Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) held in Baku, Azerbaijan, between July 5 and 10, 2026. The StAR Award is officially one of the highest operational honours within the global financial intelligence community. It celebrates exceptional instances where exchange and professional analysis of financial intelligence advances investigations, disrupts illicit financial networks, and secures success in the pursuit of justice. The Group observed that, “the award is a distinction strictly reserved for outstanding cases that exemplify innovation, international cooperation, operational effectiveness, and measurable impact,” in the fight against financial crimes. It further observed that the winning EFCC-NFIU framework serves as a global model on how secure, timely intelligence sharing between domestic institutions and international partners can result in asset recovery, adding that the winning case perfectly showcased how the NFIU's intelligence-driven data successfully fed into and strengthened EFCC's law enforcement investigations, resulting in a monumental recovery of stolen assets. The Egmont Group’s plenary serves as its principal decision‑making forum that provides an opportunity for heads of Financial Intelligence Units, FIUs to engage in strategic dialogue, exchange expertise, and guide the Group’s priorities. The 2026 Plenary included a thematic discussion, focused on strengthening public‑private partnerships, reflecting the evolving nature of financial crime and the need for enhanced collaboration between FIUs and relevant stakeholders. The Egmont Group is a network of 180-member FIUs, dedicated to improving collaboration and exchange of financial intelligence globally. It supports national and international efforts to detect, deter, and disrupt financial crime and facilitates the exchange of information, knowledge, and cooperation among its members.

Man Bags Two Years, Four Months Jail Term for N822m Fraud in Lagos The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, July 10, 2026, secured the conviction and sentence of one Minnis Uchenna Howard and his company, Howard Minnis Asset Management Limited, before Justice R. A. Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, for fraud involving N822,422,260. The defendants were initially arraigned on November 30, 2023, on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence and stealing, to which they pleaded not guilty. During the trial, the prosecution, led by M. K. Bashir called four witnesses and tendered several documents as evidence, while the defence called two witnesses. Subsequently, on July 3, 2026, the defendants were re-arraigned on an amended one-count information. The count reads: “That you, Minnis Uchenna Howard and Howard Minnis Asset Management Limited, sometime in 2023 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of N822,422,260.00, property of Krystal Lubes Limited, paid to you for the purchase of 900,000 litres of SN900 Base Oil and 500,000 litres of SN500 Base Oil, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 285(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.” The defendants pleaded guilty to the amended charge. In view of their plea, prosecution counsel urged the court to convict the defendants as charged and to rely on the evidence already before the court. Delivering judgment, Justice Oshodi convicted and sentenced the first defendant, Minnis Uchenna Howard, to two years and four months imprisonment. The second defendant, Howard Minnis Asset Management Limited, was ordered to pay a fine of N10 million. The court further ordered the defendants to make full restitution to the victim, Krystal Lubes Limited, in the sum of N822,422,260 within one year, in line with the nomination agreement executed by the defendants, their guarantor and the petitioner. Justice Oshodi also directed that the sum of N45 million recovered during the course of investigation be released to the petitioner within seven days. The convict bagged his imprisonment when he dishonestly converted to his own use the sum of N822,422,260.00, property of Krystal Lubes Limited, paid to him for the purchase of 900,000 litres of SN900 Base Oil and 500,000 litres of SN500 Base Oil,

Olukoyede Hails Proceeds of Crime Act for Improved Asset Recovery, Management The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has applauded  the Proceeds of Crime Act, POCA, for strengthening asset recovery and management and for providing a clear legal basis, improving transparency and reducing delays in the disposal of recovered assets. He gave the thumbs up on Friday, July 10, 2026, in Abuja, while speaking at a high-level seminar, themed, “Scaling up the Promotion of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Actions Across Africa,” organised by the Inter-Agency Task Team to commemorate this year’s African Anti-corruption Day. Represented by the Head, Administration and Records, Proceed of Crime Management of the EFCC, Assistant Commander of EFCC, ACE II Wananje Gwatana,  Olukoyede expressed delight that the implementation of POCA has streamlined the Commission's asset recovery and management processes, provided legal backing for its activities and enhanced operational efficiency. “The coming of POCA streamlined our activities and also gives us a legal backing to whatever we do. One of the things the Commission is doing at the moment, aside from the seizure, forfeiture, management, and then the disposal process is to shorten the turnaround time between forfeiture and disposal of assets,” he said. He disclosed that the dissipation of recovered assets was one of the major challenges the EFCC encountered in the past, adding that “with the coming of POCA, what we do for assets that are susceptible to deterioration is that we sell even before the annual disposal, because in the Standard Operating Procedures, we have annual disposal of finally forfeited assets.  But if an asset is susceptible to deterioration, we sell and then we put the proceeds in escrow, even if it is in the interim, pending the final determination of the case in court.” Speaking further, the EFCC boss stated that the Commission has strengthened integrity, transparency and accountability in recovered asset disposal by transitioning from physical auctions to electronic, adding that the EFCC now engages asset management consultants to manage forfeited properties and assigns property types to them based on their areas of competence. The consultants, he further stated, are selected based on their proven expertise and are required to submit quarterly performance reports and account on revenue generated from the assets under their respective management. While highlighting the positive impact of the Commission’s recovered assets in the economy, he stated that proceeds of crime recovered by the Commission were deployed as start-up capitals for Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, and the Consumer Credit Scheme. "The recovered proceeds of crime by the Commission is felt even by vulnerable people. The federal government recently approved some of the proceeds recovered by the Commission to fund the NELFUND and the Consumer Credit Scheme," he said. In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Musa Adamu Aliyu SAN, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to promoting integrity, transparency and accountability in Nigeria and across Africa. Aliyu noted that Africa’s pursuit of economic growth, democratic governance and social transformation could only be achieved through strong public institutions and effective anti-corruption mechanisms. The ICPC chairman stressed that combating corruption necessitates collaboration among governments, and other stakeholders. “Scaling up the promotion of integrity requires collective action. Governments, oversight institutions, private sector, civil society organisations, development partners, citizens all have critical roles to play,” he said. Also, the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, Abdullahi Usman Bello, stated that the Bureau would continue to uphold its constitutional responsibility of ensuring that public officials operate with honesty, integrity and accountability. Bello said the bureau had introduced reforms aimed at improving transparency, including the development of an online asset declaration system. Reaffirming, the CCB Chairman noted, “On this important day, we renew our promise to work closely with the inter-agency task team. Together, we will raise awareness, involve citizens and fulfil our duties.”

Alleged $6.52m Forgery:  Court Rejects Defence Objection,  Admits  Olasubomi Osinusi's Statement as Exhibit Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, July 9, 2026, admitted in evidence the extra-judicial statement of a lawyer, Olasubomi Osinusi, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over the alleged forgery of documents relating to the sum of $6,520,190 (Six Million, Five Hundred and Twenty Thousand, One Hundred and Ninety United States Dollars). At Thursday’s proceedings, the first prosecution witness, PW1, Umar Hussain Babangida, an Assistant Commissioner of Police and an EFCC investigator, while being led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, told the court that the defendant made the statement voluntarily in the presence of a witness, Oluwatosin Alamu, after the words of caution had been read to him and he confirmed that he understood them. When copies of the defendant's statements were shown to the witness, Babangida identified them as the statements made by Osinusi. According to Babangida, the defendant informed investigators that he had known one Emenike Imana since his youth, describing him as a legal practitioner based in the United Kingdom. He added that Osinusi's statement formed part of the Commission's investigation. Babangida further testified that the defendant stated that Imana contacted him to assist in authenticating the statement of one Dan Mohammed Jafaru, claiming that he had already verified the statement. However, Osinusi admitted that he did not independently verify the statement and that he did not know Dan Mohammed Jafaru. Babangida further told the court that Osinusi admitted that Jafaru did not sign the statement in his presence. He also stated that he neither knew Dr. Louis Emover Williams nor had any communication with him. Babangida further testified that Osinusi disclosed that a letter dated October 29, 2015, was dictated to him over the telephone by Emenike Imana. He said he made some input into the draft before forwarding it to Imana. According to the witness, Osinusi further revealed that an amended version of the letter was later returned to him. He reproduced it on his law firm's letterhead, signed it and addressed it to Dr. Louis Emover Williams. Babangida also told the court that Osinusi stated that the amended draft was forwarded to him by email on Sunday, November 15, 2015, with a request that the letter be ready urgently for Monday. He assured Imana that it would be ready, signed it and returned it to him, adding that he never heard from Imana afterwards. The witness further stated that Osinusi admitted that he did not independently verify the contents of the letter or ascertain whether Jafaru was indeed a military officer serving at the Supreme Military Headquarters. Rather, he acted solely on the information supplied by his friend and colleague, Imana. Babangida added that Osinusi also volunteered to provide the EFCC with the email correspondence between himself and Imana. The defence counsel, D. S. Showemimo, SAN, objected to the admissibility of the defendant's statements, arguing that the prosecution failed to comply with the provisions of Section 35 of the Police Act and Section 9 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. He further submitted that the statements were not made under the conditions prescribed by law, noting that there was no video recording of the interview and that the defendant's counsel was not present when the statements were made. He, therefore, urged the court to reject the statements. In response, Mohammed argued that the statements were voluntarily made and signed by the defendant in the presence of a witness, Oluwatosin Alamu, chosen by him during the interrogation. He urged the court to admit them in evidence and to take judicial notice of the cautionary words contained in the proof of evidence. The prosecuting counsel further submitted that the law does not make video recording a mandatory condition for the admissibility of a defendant's statement, adding that the Supreme Court has consistently held that a voluntary statement remains admissible even where no video recording exists. In her ruling, Justice Dada held that the defendant's confessional statement clearly showed that he confirmed he was not under any form of duress while making it. "His written statement, in the absence of a video recording, does not render it inadmissible. The extra-judicial statement of the defendant is hereby admitted in evidence," the judge ruled. The court consequently admitted the defendant's statements as exhibits. Justice Dada, thereafter, adjourned the matter to Thursday, November 5; Thursday, November 12; Monday, November 23; and Tuesday, November 24, 2026, for the continuation of trial