The World Is Watching: Tinubu Must Probe, Suspend FCT Minister Nyesom Wike Over US Property Scandal — Timi Frank

Nyesom Wike 

A Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has called on Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over allegations of acquiring properties in the United States under suspicious circumstances.

The  Ex-APC Spokesman who currently serves as Ambassador of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) to East Africa and the Middle East, made the appeal in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

Frank said Tinubu must break his silence on the matter and demonstrate consistency in the fight against corruption, recalling how the President swiftly suspended former Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Betta Edu, over corruption allegations that were “far less serious” than those confronting Wike.

Media reports had alleged that Wike purchased property in Florida and registered them under the names of his wife, Justice Eberechi Wike, and their children, Joaquin, Jazmyne, and Jordan.

Frank described Tinubu’s silence on the matter despite “overwhelming evidence” in the public domain as troubling, adding that it sends a dangerous message that some officials are untouchable.

“With detailed reports from credible sources such as People's Gazette and SaharaReporters, and with glaring evidence ignored by anti-corruption agencies like EFCC and ICPC, it sends a dangerous message that some officials are untouchable,” Frank said.

He further warned that the impunity of government officials like Wike weakens citizens’ trust in governance and could fuel uprisings similar to the recent Nepal revolt.

Frank commended Omoyele Sowore of SaharaReporters, the publishers of People’s Gazette and others for “courageously exposing corruption in the country, irrespective of the government officials involved.”

He accused Tinubu of shielding Wike for political reasons ahead of the 2027 elections, warning that such selective justice would damage Nigeria’s global reputation and erode investor confidence.

“The reasons behind this continued inaction in the case of Wike appears to be tied to the political calculations surrounding the 2027 presidential elections.

“However, allowing political ambition to shield corruption will irreparably harm Nigeria’s reputation internationally.

“The world is watching, and this selective justice undermines investor confidence and portrays Nigeria as a nation unable or unwilling to fight corruption—even within its highest offices.”

Frank also criticised the President’s handling of the Rivers State political crisis, arguing that suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara and House of Assembly members while leaving Wike untouched highlighted inconsistency and favoritism.

He urged Tinubu to immediately suspend Wike and commission an independent investigation into the allegations.

He said, “Furthermore, even when crises erupted in Rivers State, President Tinubu suspended only Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the House of Assembly members while leaving the Minister of FCT, Wike, untouched.

“This inconsistency fuels suspicions of favoritism and political shielding. Nigerians and the international community deserve to know why the President appears reluctant to confront alleged corruption linked to a close political ally.

“Selective enforcement of the law erodes national pride and makes Nigeria a laughing stock among peer nations, many of whom prosecute corruption allegations without hesitation.”

“The President should protect the dignity of Nigeria and the trust of its citizens by rejecting selective justice and political expediency. The integrity of Nigeria’s governance and its image on the global stage depend on it,” he added.

Omoyele Sowore had petitioned the Attorney General of Florida, Hon. James Uthmeier, seeking the forfeiture and prosecution of Wike over illicit property acquisitions in the United States.

In the petition dated September 22, 2025, and signed by his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, Esq., Sowore accused Wike of secretly purchasing multi-million-dollar real estate in Florida using suspicious cash transactions designed to conceal the source of funds.

According to the petition, Wike, alongside his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike of Nigeria’s Court of Appeal, purchased three luxury lakeside properties in Winter Springs, Seminole County, Florida, valued at over $6 million.

The petition listed the properties as 113 Springcreek Lane, Winter Springs, FL 32708, which is a 5,000 sq. ft. residence purchased in cash for $535,000 and transferred to Jordan Wike (25); 209 Hertherwood Court, Winter Springs, FL 32708, which is a 3,401 sq. ft. home acquired for $459,157 in cash and transferred to Joaquin Wike (23); and 208 Hertherwood Court, Winter Springs, FL 32708, which is a 3,901 sq. ft. home bought for $465,000 in cash and transferred to Jazmyne Wike (20).

Sowore’s lawyers said the purchases were executed through quit claim deeds between July 2021 and September 2023 and transferred directly to Wike’s children. They argued that the cash-only acquisitions bypassed banking oversight and raised “serious money laundering concerns.”

Breach of Nigerian and U.S. Laws

The petition alleges that Wike failed to declare these foreign assets to Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as required under the Constitution.

It further noted that his legitimate income as a public servant since 1999 could not sustain such multi-million-dollar acquisitions.

The petition argued that the transactions violated both Florida state law and U.S. federal anti-money laundering statutes, specifically citing the Florida Money Laundering Act (Chapter 896.101, Fla. Stat.), the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act, and federal laws under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956 and 1957.

It also referenced the U.S. Department of Justice Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, which targets assets linked to corrupt foreign officials. 

If it were to be in other climes, Wike would be sacked and probed with the speed of the light the moment he was accused of corruption. Nigeria is a country where laws are meant only for the poor, otherwise, Wike won't have the nerves to be granting interviews up and down after the weighty allegations made against him by Sowore. One thing is sure, one day, somebody somewhere is going to open these corrupt leaders' books for a thorough prosecution.

Nigeria's FCT Minister Nyesom Wike acquires up to 4 properties in Florida from proceeds of corruption, Sowore Tenders Evidence

Wike, his wife and their three Children 

Rights activist Omoyele Sowore has made public evidences confirming that Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Ezenwo Wike - CON, GSSRS, and his wife Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, a Court of Appeal judge, used "Quit Claim Deeds" to transfer three different Florida properties into the names of their children Jordan, Joaquim, and Jasmyne.

According to Sowore, these are the Quit Claim Deeds that Nyesom Ezenwo Wike - CON, GSSRS, and his wife Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, a Court of Appeal judge, used to transfer three different Florida properties into the names of their children Jordan, Joaquim, and Jasmyne. These transfers were done in 2023, but Mr. International Thief said he was not aware. With this discovery, it is now also clear that Wike has a fourth property in Florida at 113 Spring Creek Lane, Winter Springs, FL 32708.

This explains why Wike boasted on Channels Television that he “didn’t know” his wife and children owned mansions in the United States. But the international thief has now been caught in his own web of lies. By the way, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike - CON, GSSRS was due for follow-up treatment for a new ailment and chest infection that recently kept him in London for two weeks, which he was going to do under the guise of attending the UN General Assembly with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu but yesterday the VP, Kashim Shettima was asked to lead the delegation with 7 other ministers, Wike decided to bail out and several state governors have also been told to stay back for now. There is no hiding place anymore.

EXPLAINER AS TO WHY Nyesom Ezenwo Wike - CON, GSSRS, AND HIS WIFE ARE USING A QUIT DEED TO TRANSFER THEIR LAUNDERED WEALTH TO THEIR THREE KIDS: 

A Quit Claim Deed is one of the simplest property transfer documents in U.S. real estate law. It allows one person, the grantor, to sign over whatever ownership interest they may have in a property to another person, the grantee. Crucially, it offers no guarantees the grantor makes no promise that the title is valid, clear, or even legitimate. In short, it transfers “whatever interest” the grantor has, nothing more.

Ordinarily, quit claim deeds are used for routine family transactions, a husband adding a wife to a title, parents transferring property to children, or heirs resolving paperwork after an inheritance. Because they bypass warranties and detailed title checks, they are cheap, quick, and often escape close scrutiny.

But this simplicity is exactly why kleptocrats love them. Corrupt officials exploit "quit claim deeds" to launder stolen wealth. By transferring properties into the names of wives, children, or other relatives, they hide their true ownership. On paper, the transactions appear to be ordinary family planning. In reality, they are deliberate strategies to conceal the original source of illicit funds. No public sale, no market-value exchange, no visible money trail, just the quiet concealment of corruption beneath harmless looking paperwork.

This is precisely what Wike has done. Properties in Florida, purchased with the proceeds of corruption, were quietly moved into the names of his wife, herself a senior judicial officer in Nigeria, and their children. The pattern is a textbook case of laundering stolen Nigerian wealth into U.S. real estate, using quit claim deeds as legal camouflage.

 Under U.S. law, such transactions amount to money laundering and trafficking in stolen property, serious crimes punishable under both state and federal statutes. They are also subject to asset seizure and forfeiture under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative.

Wike’s Florida deeds are the very trail of corruption, the very evidence that US prosecutors need to unravel his kleptocracy and reclaim assets stolen from the people of Nigeria.

Documents:

Omoyele Sowore: Nyesom Wike must be held accountable under U.S. law if he follows Tinubu to the UN General Assembly in New York

Tinubu/Wike

The human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has said the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike must be held accountable under U.S. law if he follows Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the UN General Assembly in New York.

According to Sowore, if Nyesom Ezenwo Wike - CON, GSSRS follows Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the United Nations General Assembly, he must be arrested to face Florida’s money laundering charges as well as federal indictments for money laundering and asset trafficking.

His money laundering schemes would fall under the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, a program of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) designed to combat corruption by foreign public officials, recover the proceeds of foreign bribery and theft laundered into or through the United States, and return stolen assets to the citizens of the countries from which they were taken.


Wike’s Florida mansions, hidden under his wife’s Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike and children’s names, are textbook examples of laundering proceeds of crime. These properties should be seized, and Wike himself should face indictment under both Florida’s anti-money laundering statutes and U.S. federal law.


Earlier, Omoyele Sowore had accused the Minister of FCT Nyesom Wike, of threatening an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) official during a by-election in 2016.

Sowore made the claim in a post on X (formerly Twitter), where he shared an old audio recording said to capture Wike making the threats.

He described Wike as “a killer, drunkard, and land thief,” and alleged that the minister bribed INEC officials to rig the election in his favor. He also said Wike threatened to kill those officials if they refused.

Sowore further alleged that Wike recently threatened to assassinate him on behalf of President Bola Tinubu. According to him, “Wike has killed many people, stolen a lot, and escaped justice for too long.”

Labour Party Commends House of Reps Speaker Abbas for Alarm On Tinubu's Reckless Borrowing, Tasks Akpabio to Follow Good Example

By Prince Tony Akeni, Labour Party National Publicity Secretary (Interim)

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Abbas Tajudeen, after his initial catharsis of truth on the prodigal and dangerous borrowings of President Tinubu's APC administration on Monday has, in the last 18 hours, been telling Nigerians that his statement was quoted out of context. 

But that is not true. If he has come under pressure by his party's hawks and blows by the long hammer of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from his vacation beach in Europe to recant, Nigerians are good at understanding, so we can understand.

For avoidance of doubt, speaking yesterday September 8, 2025 at the opening of the 11th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the West Africa Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAAPAC), which took place at the National Assembly, Abuja, below is what Speaker Abbas said, verbatim:

_“As at the first quarter of 2025, Nigeria’s total public debt stood at N149.39 trillion, equivalent to about US$97 billion. This represents a sharp rise from N121.7 trillion the previous year, underscoring how quickly the burden has grown. Even more CONCERNING is the debt-to-GDP ratio, which now stands at roughly 52 percent, well above the statutory ceiling of 40 percent set by our own laws._

_"The BREACH of the debt limit is a signal of strain on fiscal sustainability... THERE IS NEED for stronger oversight, transparent borrowing practices, and a collective resolve to ensure that tangible economic and social returns match every naira borrowed.”_

_“This is not just a budgetary concern but A STRUCTURAL CRISIS that demands urgent parliamentary attention and coordinated reform._

_“Borrowing should support infrastructure, health, education, and industries that create jobs and reduce poverty. RECKLESS DEBT THAT FUELS CONSUMPTION OR CORRUPTION must be exposed and rejected. Oversight is not just about figures, but about the lives and futures behind those figures."_

When there is too much sand in a soup, even the blind will notice. That is what Rep Tajudeen Abbas, the APC's own Speaker of Nigeria's House of Representatives, has done. 

Nigeria's astronomical debts without the benefit of visible economic and infrastructure development for the citizens on behalf of whom they are borrowed, the dangers the debts hold for the country's future are so grave and frightening that Speaker Abbas could not hide it from the world. 

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas also did not hide the fact that his own party's administration led by President Tinubu is responsible for the country's public debts peril to Nigerians born and unborn.

For Nigerians to appreciate Speaker Abbas' sense of alarm, one must put in perspective the facts. 

Both the Debt management Office and CBN's published data available to the public confirm that in the first 90 days of this year alone, Nigeria's public debts soared from #121.7trillion in December 2024 to #149.39trillion.

What is more frightening is that as Speaker Abbas pointed out, in the same three-month period the debt-to-GDP ratio resulting from these debts rose to 52%, which is far above the highest safe limit of 40% set by Nigeria's own fiscal laws. 

What further worsens the alarming nature of the country's debts is the revelation that in the last nine months, Nigeria used N8.93trillion or $6.2billion to service her debts. This means that 61% of the country's revenues of #14.55trillion earned during the same period went into debt servicing!

Choosing his words carefully for minimum image damage to his party, even Speaker Abbas could not escape admitting that this is an extreme breach of the debt ceiling and revenue security threshold set by Nigeria's fiscal laws.

Yet, not done, President Tinubu, even as he jetted out to France last week on a 10-day vacation, is seeking a new World Bank loan, a proposal of which Labour Party has learned is currently being prepared for Senate President Godswill Akpabio's "ayes have it" National Assembly choir. 

The public might condemn Speaker Abbas as a co-culprit crying wolf over a collective guilt for Nigeria's calamitous debts profile since, as Speaker of the National Assembly, he presides over one of the two legislative chambers which approved Tinubu's borrowings. 

True as that may be, Labour Party believes that Speaker Abbas' admission of President Tinubu as the architect-in-chief of Nigeria's skyscraping debts, although coming somewhat late, calls for commendation more than condemnation at this point. This is especially so if his alarm will help put some breaks on the APC administration's recklessness in loan procurements. It is better late than never.

The Labour Party enjoins all Nigerians to join Speaker Abbas' call advocating, in his own words, "stronger oversight, transparent borrowing practices, and a collective resolve to ensure that tangible and social returns match every naira borrowed." 

At this juncture of our country's captivity in the grip of President Tinubu's fiscal management disasters, there is not a more cogent, urgent and compelling call to duty to God and country as the one being made now by Speaker Abbas.

Finally, the Labour Party wishes to recommend to Senate President Godswill Akpabio to emulate Speaker Abbas. Taking the initiative and leading from the front ahead of Akpabio, Mr. Speaker has shown the Senate President a resounding example of objective patriotism by the call to put Nigeria first henceforward in all public loans procurement through responsible oversight.

Going forward, both the Speaker and Senate President should act in accord to ensure that wayward and prodigal borrowings proposed henceforth by the Tinubu administration, which do not have clear achievable blueprint for tangible benefits in infrastructural development, economic wellbeing and security of Nigerians are outrightly rejected and thrown out.

In particular, before Senate President Akpabio accepts another loan request from President Tinubu and railroads his assembly of she-men to chorus "the ayes have it," he should remember history. Any people pushed to the wall by grinding poverty with nowhere to turn would defy all one day and turn on their oppressors. 

The solution to preventing this is to end altogether the APC government's prodigal borrowing and squandering of loans. The alternative is to, at the minimum, heed Speaker Abbas' recommendations of strict oversight over loans and ensure commensurate returns in benefits to Nigerians.

Tony Akeni Le Moin

September 9, 2025

Peter Obi — Coordinated Lawlessness, Impunity Reigns In Nigeria, Our Country Has Become Lawless

Any society where lawlessness overrides the rule of law is not destined to be a haven for investors. Recent reports showing that Nigeria’s human rights indicators have worsened merely highlight severe shortfalls in government protection for civil liberties, personal security, and… pic.twitter.com/3Dn2UZlPKq

— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) June 24, 2025

Any society where lawlessness overrides the rule of law is not destined to be a haven for investors. Recent reports showing that Nigeria’s human rights indicators have worsened merely highlight severe shortfalls in government protection for civil liberties, personal security, and basic living standards. I know what I have been going through as a person in abuse of my human rights just because I contested a Presidential election which I have legitimate rights to do. So I imagine what small business owners, regular citizens, and vulnerable communities face every day. If this level of lawlessness can happen to someone with a registered company and legitimate means, what hope does the ordinary Nigerian have? This morning, my youngest brother called me frantically, informing me that a group of people had invaded his company property in Ikeja, Lagos, and were demolishing the building. He had just come in from Port Harcourt and was denied entry to the property by security men who told him the building was being pulled down. They even informed him that this demolition had started over the weekend. As a peace-loving Nigerian, he quickly started processing to go to court immediately, not knowing what must have resulted in this, as they moved fast to destroy his home without any restraint. I rushed to Lagos from Abuja after the call this morning and headed straight to the property. On arrival, I was met by security people who tried to bar me from entering the property. I humbly pleaded with them that the property belonged to my brother’s company, and from the records, the company had owned the property for over a decade. They told me they had a court judgment, and I immediately requested it. You would not believe that the court judgment they claim was issued against an unknown person, and squatters. I went further to ask about a demolition order or permit, and there was none. How do you sue an unknown person? How does a court issue a judgment in such a farce of a case? No one was served. No name was written. Yet they showed up with excavators and began destroying a structure that had stood for over 15 years. I immediately asked the excavators for the person who had sent them, and they said they didn’t know anyone, but they were only informed to come and demolish the house. I immediately told them to tell whoever it is that I would like to speak with them, if they can call my number, which I shared with the excavators, so that I can speak with whomever gave them the order to demolish the property. I stood there from 10am to 2pm, waiting to get a call at least and nobody called or came. The contractor even said he didn’t know who sent him. Two men later came and said they would like us to go to a police station. I asked if they even had a demolition order but they had nothing. The whole situation screamed of coordinated lawlessness and impunity. Our country has become lawless. I just started reminiscing about how just over the weekend, I had a meeting when someone told me how he has investments in Ghana, Senegal, and the Benin Republic, but won’t touch Nigeria despite his market being here. I asked him why. His answer was piercing: “Nigeria is a lawless country. Until we have laws that protect people, nobody will invest in Nigeria.” I am just shocked. How did Nigeria get to this level of lawlessness? What kind of country are we trying to build when the rights of citizens, their lives, their properties, and their voices are trampled upon daily? I remain committed to a better Nigeria where lawlessness will be a thing of the past, protection of life and property, respect for human rights, care for the less privileged, and basic education for all children. A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO

Alleged N76bn and $31.5m fraud: Court Adjourns Ex-AMCON MD, Kuru, Others’ Trial Till June 4

Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, adjourned till June 4, 2025 further hearing in the trial of Mallam Ahmed Kuru, a former Managing Director of Assets Management  Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, and four others,  over alleged N76bn and $31.5m fraud.  

Kuru , alongside Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, Managing Director of Arik Air, Kamilu Omokide, Receiver Manager of Arik Air, Union Bank Nigeria Plc and Super Bravo Limited is facing trial on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, and abuse of office to the tune of N75bn and $31.5m fraud.

At the resumed sitting on Wednesday , the second prosecution witness , PW2, Austine Obigwe, a former  Group Executive Director of Union Bank Plc, stated that in 2011, two years after he exited Union Bank,  Arik Air was indebted to his company, Staal, to the tune of $2.3m. 

 He, however, said: “I am not interested in collecting it.  I wrote it off when I discovered that Arik Air started having challenges.”

During cross-examination by the defence counsel, including Olasupo Shasore, SAN (for the second defendant); Olalekan Ojo, SAN (for the fourth defendant); and Tayo Oyedepo, SAN (for the fifth defendant),  the  PW2 also confirmed that following his exit from Union Bank, he began consultancy engagements with Arik Air and other companies. 

When asked whether the founder of Arik Air, Johnson Arumemi-Ikhide, was a personal acquaintance, he responded in the affirmative.

He, however, added  that “ I currently don’t have any formal relationship with the airline, I maintain a relationship with Arumemi-Ikhide.”

Obigwe stated that he participated in an inspection of 26 aircraft belonging to Arik Air in 2009, and found them to be airworthy and in good condition based on assessments provided by Lufthansa.

“I had no reason to doubt Lufthansa’s evaluation,” he said, adding that the purpose of the inspection was to ensure that the airline’s fleet had not been depleted.

When asked about the airline’s compliance with its loan obligations, Obigwe testified that during his tenure at Union Bank, there were no complaints from other financial institutions suggesting that Arik Air was defaulting on its loan obligations. 

He also confirmed that Arik Air was servicing its loan with Union Bank during his tenure.

Responding to a letter dated April 23, 2009, allegedly written by AMCON to Union Bank concerning a N46.11 bn debt owed by Arik Air, the witness stated that the letter was not brought to his attention while he was still with the bank.

When asked to speak about the character and management of Arik Air, the witness said: “I can only speak for the period I was there. When I was in Union Bank, Arik Air was one of the best companies.”

Also, when asked about the options available to lenders when a loan becomes non-performing, Obigwe said that the lender might choose to transfer the loan to another bank, reassign it, or enforce the security tied to the loan.

“ A lender is legally empowered to dispose of the security in the event of default by the borrower,” he added. 

The matter was adjourned till June 4, 2025 for the continuation of trial.

Source: EFCC 

Borrowing to loot: Tinubu Seeks Senate's authorization to borrow 21.5 billion dollars, EUR 2.1 billion and 15 billion yen

Anti—masses President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted a request to the Senate for authorization to borrow 21.5 billion dollars, EUR 2.1 billion and 15 billion yen. It also seeks a grant of 65 million euros.

Tinubu in a letter to the national assembly said: “In the light of the removal of the fuel subsidy and its impact on the national economy, approval is called for the borrowing plan, which amounts to USD 21,543,647,912, and EUR 2,193,856,324.54. And in Japanese Yen, 15 billion Yen and grant of 65 million, respectively.

“This initiative aims to generate employment, promote skill acquisition, foster entrepreneurship, reduce poverty, and enhance food security, as well as to improve the livelihoods of Nigerian. Majority of these projects and programs will be implemented across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. 

“In light of the significant infrastructure deficit in the country and the power of financial resources needed to address this gap amid declining domestic demand, it has become essential to pursue prudent economic borrowing to close the financial shortfall.

“These funds will primarily be directed towards critical infrastructural projects, including railways, healthcare among others. Given the market nature of these needs and the importance of stabilizing the economy, it is crucial to seek the consideration and approval of the House of Representatives for the 2025-2026 External Borrowing Plan.

“This will enable the government to fulfill its obligations to the Nigerian people through timely disbursement and effective project implementation.”

Endless borrowing since 2015 till date have only compounded the woes of the country. If thorough investigation should be carried out, APC led government will be second to non in leadership corruption index since independence.

APC led government in Nigeria since 2015 till date has been a course through anti- people policies and programs that has further ruined the domestic economy as the country now known as the global capital of poverty in the faces of state enabled criminality of Bandits, Fulani herdsmen menace, kidnappers and ISWAP terrorists.

The hope of a free , fair and credible future elections is zero too as all opposition parties have been infiltrated and put in turbulence by the Tinubu led Federal government.

Court Orders Final Forfeiture of Abuja, Kano Properties

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Thursday, April 3, 2025 secured a final forfeiture of two properties to the federal government before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja. The properties are located in FCT, Abuja and Kano state.

Both properties which are linked to Aminu Sidi Garunbabba, a senior staff of the Federal Inland Revenue Services, FIRS are a four bedroom terrace masonite with boys quarter, situated in Barumark Groove Estate, Plot 667 Cadastral Zone BO3, Wuye District, Abuja and the other at N0 5 Lodge Road, Kano State.

The order was given following a motion ex-parte for their final forfeiture, dated March 16, 2022 and filed by the Commission, through its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, pursuant to Section 44(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Section 17 of Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act, No 14, 2006.

 

The court had on February 16, 2022, granted an interim forfeiture order of the properties and directed the publication of the order in a national newspaper to make for any interested party to show cause as to why the properties should not be finally forfeited to the federal government.

Moving the motion for the final forfeiture order at Thursday’s sitting, the prosecution counsel informed the court that the property was reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.

However, the defence counsel in a preliminary objection, raised concerns that a public officer cannot be investigated and prosecuted when an ongoing administrative disciplinary action is yet to be concluded.

Justice Egwatu after listening to the submissions of the counsel dismissed the objection and granted the request of the prosecution for a final forfeiture.

The judge held that the matter was a non-conviction based forfeiture which is different from a criminal charge that targets an individual and the simultaneous actions do not amount to abuse of court process.

“This case targets properties suspected to be proceeds of crime, the two cases are different. A criminal case requires proving beyond reasonable doubt while in this case, only a suspicion suffices. Both actions can go on simultaneously and one cannot abate the other. The parties are different, the target in both cases are different, one is proved beyond reasonable doubt and the other is reasonable suspicion. The issues are also different, a person cannot be allowed to benefit from illegitimate acts. The respondent failed to show any reasonable cause that the funds used in purchasing the property is from his legitimate earnings, so the request for final forfeiture is granted”

The journey to the final forfeiture started with EFCC’s intelligence that unraveled the corrupt activities of staffers of FIRS who conspired among themselves and defrauded the Service of millions of naira under the guise of Duty Tour Allowances for non-existence trips.

Source: EFCC 

Alleged Money Laundering: EFCC Arraigns Sierra Leonean for Non-declaration of $90,000 At Airport

O

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Okotie-Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos, has arraigned a Sierra Leonean, Alhaji Ahmed Shaw, for non-declaration of the sum of $90,000 (Ninety Thousand United States Dollars) before Justice D.I.Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. 

The defendant was arrested on March 3, 2025 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for non-declaration of the sum of $90,000( Ninety Thousand United States of America Dollars). 

Upon his arrest, the Agency had, on Friday, March 5, 2025, handed him over to the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, Okotie Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos for further investigations.

Consequently, he was arraigned on Thursday, April 3, 2025 on a one-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering. 

The count reads: “That you, ALHAJI AHMED SHAW, on the 3rd day of March, 2025 in Lagos , within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to make a declaration of the sum of $90,000 (Ninety Thousand United States of America Dollars) to the Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, keja, Lagos and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him. 

In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, C.C. Okezie, asked for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at a Correctional Centre.

Justice Dipeolu adjourned till April 15, 2025 for commencement of trial and also ordered the remand of the defendant at a Correctional Centre.

Source: EFCC 

Alleged N1.9bn Fraud: Court Fixes May 15 for Trial of Works Ministry Director, Surveyor

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Apo, Abuja on Thursday, April 3, 2025  fixed May 15, 2025 for the trial of former Deputy Director, Highways, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Augustine Ojo Olowoniyan, alongside a surveyor, Sulaiman Abdulkadir Muhammed of the Department of Highways and Planning.

They duo is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a three-count charge, bordering on diversion and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N1,936,961,649.00 (One billion, Nine Hundred and Thirty-six Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty-one Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty-nine Naira ).

The fund was earmarked for the acquisition of titles for  federal roads nationwide between March 4, 2019, and July 17, 2020, which the defendants allegedly converted to their personal use.

At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel to the first and second defendant, J.K. Kolawole and A.S.U. Garba, respectively reminded the court of pending applications of their clients and requested that the court admitted them to bail on liberal terms pending the determination of the case. In his objection, prosecution counsel, M.K Hussein drew the attention of the court to a counter-affidavit signed by Njoku Ekelechi, an investigator with the EFCC, accompanied with a written address, dated April 2, 2025 and urged the court to discontenance the bail application or impose bail terms and conditions that will ensure that the defendants appear in court for their trial.

Justice Onwuegbuzie admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N800, 000,000 (Eight Hundred Million Naira) with two sureties in like sum, who must be civil servants that are resident in Abuja. The sureties must write an undertaking to produce the defendants in court as and when due. In addition, the defendants must submit their passports to the court which will be verified by the prosecution.

The first defendant, Olowoniyan, who is standing another trial in the same court for an alleged N420million fraud was also admitted to another bail by the court in the sum of N400,000,000 (Four Hundred Million) with a surety in like sum, who must be a civil servant, resident in Abuja. The surety, the court held must write an undertaking to produce the defendant in court as and when due. In addition, the defendant must submit his passport with the court registrar.

Both matters were adjourned till May 15, 2025 for trial.

Source: EFCC 

Alleged $9.6b P&ID Scam : EFCC Tenders more Evidence against Kore Holdings

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC  on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 tendered additional evidence against Kore Holdings Limited before Justice J. O. Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court Abuja.

The Commission is prosecuting the company alongside Muhammed Kuchazi (now deceased) in connection with the Process & Industrial Development, P&ID fraud portfolio on amended four-count charges that border on non-compliance with Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment requirements, money laundering and other illegal acts.

At Wednesday’s proceedings, Second Prosecution Witness, PW2, Umar Umar, while being led in his testimony by prosecution counsel, Bala Sangha, advanced eleven documents which were tendered in evidence in court. They include, a letter of request to Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, letter of request to Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, extra-judicial statements of Kuchazi which he voluntarily made to the EFCC, statements of other directors of the company: Mustapha Kuchazi, Bello Kuchazi, Belkisu Kuchazi, Aisha Kuchazi and statement of PW1, Temitope Erinomo.

 

The witness, while disclosing that Kore Holdings Limited was not a liquidated entity but was active and did businesses in Nigeria, submitted that “The status of Kore Holdings Limited through our investigation and interaction with Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC and First Bank of Nigeria Limited revealed that there was no evidence to show that it was liquidated or closed up because the documents showed that the company is active. 

“Kore Holding Limited and Muhammed Kuchazi continually facilitated meetings between Rilwanu Lukman, the then Minister of Petroleum and the Process and Industrial Developments, P&ID for a fee of three per cent of the net profit of P&ID project which led Kuchazi to testify against the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the High Court of England and Wales in the matter of Nigeria Vs P&ID in the first quarter of 2023 in which judgment was delivered in favour of Nigeria,” he said.

Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter till September 24, 2025 for continuation of trial.

Source: EFCC 

Alleged N178.8m Fraud: Court Adjourns Re-arraignment of Cooperative Society Executives till May 29

Justice Sharon T. Ishaya of Federal High Court, sitting in Jos, Plateau State, on Thursday, March 27, 2025 adjourned until May 29 and 30, 2025, the re-arraignment and trial of Secretary and Chairman of Covenant Fadama Multi-purpose Cooperative Society, Jos, Okewole Dayo and Bishop Katung Jonas.  

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting Dayo, Jonas, and late Mamman Irmiya Jatau on a 23-count charge, bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretense and money laundering to the tune of ₦178,885,000 (One Hundred and Seventy-Eight Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty-five Thousand Naira).

 

The adjournment followed the amendment of the charges by the prosecution and the need for the defendants to study the alteration before taking their pleas.

 

As proceedings commenced, defence counsel C.I. Nwogbo, representing the first defendant, and G.G. Aji, representing the second defendant, informed the court that they were only served the amended charges in the morning and requested time for their clients to study the new charges before responding.

 

“My Lord, we were only served the amended charge at 9am today. We believe we ought to have received it earlier so that our clients could review the charges against them. In these circumstances, we are applying for an adjournment to allow the first defendant to study the charges and prepare his response,” he said.

 

In his response, prosecution counsel, Ibrahim Buba, explained that the only change in the charges was the removal of Dadin Kowa Microfinance Bank, since its licence had been revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, stating that the Commission needed to satisfactorily confirm the bank’s status with the apex bank before filing the amendment. He urged the court to proceed with the arraignment since the defendants are familiar with the previous charge, which included the bank, since about two months ago.

 

“My Lord, the reason for filing the amended charge a day before the scheduled arraignment was because we had to write to the CBN to confirm the status of Dadin Kowa Microfinance Bank, and subsequently amended the charge to remove the bank. Apart from this change, the charges remain largely the same,” he said.

 

Justice Ishaya, however, ruled that arraignment was an integral part of a fair trial and that the defendants must be given adequate time to prepare their defence. She adjourned the case till May 29 and 30, 2025, for re-arraignment and commencement of trial.

 

 The defendants allegedly lured unsuspecting members of the public to invest in their fraudulent cooperative society and allegedly transferred the proceeds of their crime to various banks which later withdrew through their proxies for acquisition properties in Jos and Kaduna.

Source: EFCC 

Nigerian Senate: "Sex, Power, and 500 Million Naira – Senator Akpabio Accused of Harassing Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Asking About Her Nightwear"

In December 2024, around 9 PM, Akpabio called me on the phone and asked where I was. I told him I was at home, in my bedroom. He then asked if I was wearing nightclothes. I said yes. Next, he asked what color they were, and I simply replied, "red," not really paying attention to his intentions.

Then, out of nowhere, he asked if I could undress and tell him. Curious to see where he was going with this, I played along and said, "Okay." After a few moments, I told him I had undressed. That’s when things took a strange turn—he told me to finger myself, smell my fingers, and describe the scent. Shocked, I asked why. Instead of answering, he told me to send my account number. Moments later, I received a credit alert—500 million naira, just for fun, he said.

While I was still in disbelief, he asked me again about the smell. I jokingly told him it smelled like a clean armpit with the scent of a tired woman. He laughed and told me he was in the mood, asking me to come over to Transcorp Hotel in Abuja. I reminded him that I was married, hoping it would end the conversation, but he casually brushed it off, saying, "If you don't want your husband to know, he won’t." Then, as if it was nothing, he admitted that the money he sent me was originally meant for a road project in Abuja but told me I could keep it.

To prove how aroused he was, he even sent me a picture of his dick. At that point, I told him, "This is too much—I’m a married woman." That’s when his tone changed. He said, "Soon, your Senate seat will be empty." And that’s where our problems began.

The next day, at the Senate House rest home, he blocked my way and said he just wanted to grab my ass. To avoid causing a scene, I let him, but when he tried to hold on for longer, I pushed him away and walked off.

Source: SM

EFCC Commences Investigation of Suspect Arrested with $578,000 in Lagos

Operatives of the Lagos Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,  EFCC,  have commenced investigations of a suspect,  Okorie Sylvernus Sunday, arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, with $578,000( Five Hundred and Seventy Eight Thousand United States of America Dollars)

The investigations commenced  on Friday, March 21, 2025 when the Area Comptroller in charge of the NCS at the airport  on Friday, March 21, 2025, handed over Sunday to the EFCC for false currency declaration.

The suspect was arrested by the Customs upon arrival in the country from Johannesburg , South Africa, on Wednesday, March 19,  2025. 

On arrival, he had approached the Currency Declaration Desk and declared the sum of $279,000( Two Hundred and Seventy-nine Thousand United States Dollar).

However, an additional sum of $299,000( Two Hundred and Ninety-nine Thousand USD) was found to be neatly concealed in different packages, thereby totaling  $578,000 (Five Hundred and Seventy Eight Thousand USD).

During further examination, the suspect was found to have also concealed the sum of 100 Euros (One Hundred Euros) as well as a counterfeit $250 (Two Hundred and Fifty USD)."

Speaking during the handing over,  Harrison said: “ This is in contravention of the provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011, which stipulates that any currency or other forms of negotiable instruments , where the value exceeds $10,000 threshold or its equivalent must be properly declared for inbound and outbound passengers.”

Harrison, who spoke on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, added that “ The Command will be handing over a total sum of Five Hundred and Seventy-eightThousand, United States Dollar ($578,000) to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for false currency declaration.”

While receiving the suspect, the acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, Okotie Eboh, Ahmed Ghali, commended the NCS for its cooperation with the EFCC.

He stated that inter-agency collaboration was very crucial to achieving a common goal, adding that “We are here today to take over one passenger coming from South Africa for falsely declaring the cash he was carrying along .  I want members of the public to be weary of this kind of act . It is incumbent on each and every person going out or coming into the country to declare any cash in excess of $10,000. It is mandatory by virtue of the provisions of our laws, especially the money laundering law”.

 

He also appealed to the members of the public to desist from the act of false declaration or non-declaration, adding that the long arm of the laws would always catch up with anyone involved in the criminal act.

“ We will not allow anyone to sabotage the economy or the nation’s financial system. This is because this kind of act exposes the country to a lot of risks, in terms of money laundering; it also makes the country to be seen as a haven of fraud.  We will continue to  synergise  to make sure we have a better country , a stronger economy and a more functional financial system”, he said.

Source: EFCC 

EFCC Arraigns Works Ministry's Director, Surveyor for N1.9bn Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, arraigned a former Deputy Director , Highways,   Federal Ministry of Works and Housing,  Augustine Ojo Olowoniyan, alongside a surveyor, Sulaiman Abdulkadir Muhammed of the Department of Highways and Planning before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT,  High Court, Apo, Abuja.

They were arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on alleged diversion and misappropriation of public funds amounting to N1,936,961,649.00 (One Billion, Nine Hundred and Thirty-Six Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty-One Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty-Nine Naira ). The alleged offence is contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. The funds were reportedly earmarked for the acquisition of titles for  federal roads nationwide between March 4, 2019, and July 17, 2020, but were allegedly converted to their personal use.

One of the counts in the charge reads: “That you, Augustine Ojo Olowoniyan, whilst serving as Deputy Director Highways, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and Project Coordinator for the acquisition of titles for Federal Roads, and Suleiman Abdulkadir Muhammed, whilst serving as Surveyor of the Department of Highways and Planning, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, between March 4, 2019, and October 21, 2019, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, used your office to confer corrupt advantage upon yourselves by putting to your own use the sum of Eight Hundred and Seven Million, Fifty-Three Thousand Naira (N807,053,000.00) despite being funds budgeted for the acquisition of titles for Federal Roads Nationwide, thereby committing an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

Following their plea, the prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed, SAN, requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendants in the Correctional Centre.  However, counsel to the first and second defendants, J.K. Kolawole and A.S.U. Garba, applied for a short adjournment to enable them to file for bail applications and requested that the defendants be remanded in the EFCC’s custody.

Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter till April 3, 2025  for the hearing of the bail application and remanded the two defendants at Kuje Correctional Centre. 

In a related development, the EFCC also arraigned the first defendant, Augustine Ojo Olowoniyan, on a separate three-count charge before the same Judge for allegedly diverting public funds amounting to Four Hundred and Thirty-Nine Million, Five Hundred and Two Thousand, Two Hundred Naira (N439,502,200.00) to personal use.

One of the charges reads: “That you, Augustine Ojo Olowoniyan, whilst serving as Deputy Director Highways, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and Project Coordinator for the acquisition of titles for Federal Roads, and in such capacity entrusted with public funds, between March 27, 2019, and December 17, 2019, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, transferred the cumulative sum of Three Hundred and One Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Four Thousand, Two Hundred Naira (N301,994,200.00) to Chile Ushahemba (a staff of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing) and received in cash the sum of Nineteen Million, One Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira (N19,140,000.00), which you converted to your own use, thereby committing a criminal breach of trust contrary to and punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Law.”

The defendant also pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter to the same date, April 3, 2025 for the hearing of the bail application.

Source: EFCC 

How EFCC Arrests Eight Trucks Conveying Suspected Illegal Solid Minerals in Makurdi

Operatives of the Makurdi Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,   EFCC,  have arrested eight trucks conveying suspected illegal  solid minerals.

They were arrested on Wednesday,  March 12,  2025 at Katsina-ala Local Government Area of Benue State.

Solid minerals suspected to be fluorite and iron stones were recovered from the trucks.  The minerals were mined from some illegal mining sites  in the Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The suspects will soon be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Source: EFCC 

Alleged N5.8Billion Fraud: How Former Kwara Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed Diverted UBEC’s Funds

The trial of the immediate past Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his Finance Commissioner, Ademola Banu, over alleged misappropriation of N5.78 billion public funds continued on Wednesday, March 11, 2024, before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, the EFCC presented its second witness, PW 2, Dr. Musa Oladimeji Dasuki, a retired Permanent Secretary at the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), who served between 2011 and 2020.

Led in evidence by EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Dasuki testified that the Kwara State Government, under the leadership of the first defendant as governor and the second defendant as finance commissioner, requested UBEC funds for the years 2013 and 2014 to pay teachers' salaries.

According to Dasuki: "The then Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, who is the second defendant in this case, initially made an oral request for the release of the 2013 UBEC Matching Grant to pay teachers' salaries. However, we insisted that such a request must be made in writing. Subsequently, the commissioner sent a letter conveying His Excellency’s approval for the release of the funds. As a result, the money was deposited into the state government's account domiciled with Skye Bank Plc."

Dasuki further explained that SUBEB initially opposed the request because they knew it would affect ongoing projects. However, they eventually approved the release after receiving assurances from Banu that the funds would be repaid once the state received its allocation from Abuja.

"A letter was written to that effect from the office of the Commissioner for Finance, signed on his behalf, and the money was released immediately upon receiving the letter," he said.

Despite the assurances, Dasuki stated that the money was never repaid.

"According to the 2013 action plan submitted to UBEC, the funds were intended for the construction of 40 standard classroom blocks with offices, 40 VIP toilets, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centers in primary and junior secondary schools across the 16 Local Government Areas of Kwara State. However, many of these projects could not be executed because the funds had been diverted," he said.

He further testified that many contractors protested due to non-payment for completed projects.

During cross-examination by Jimoh Mumini, SAN, counsel to the first defendant, Dasuki confirmed that neither the former governor nor the finance commissioner was a member of SUBEB.

Justice Abdulghafar adjourned the matter till Thursday, March 13, 2025

Source: EFCC 

EFCC Gets Supreme Court’s Nod to Probe Peter Odili’s Tenure

Odili

In a landmark ruling on Monday, March 10, 2025, the Supreme Court of Nigeria dismissed appeals filed by the Attorney General of Rivers State and the Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly against the leave granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by the Court of Appeal to contest an order of perpetual injunction of Federal High Court, Port Harcourt that barred the Commission from investigating Dr. Peter Odili's tenure as governor of the state.

The dismissal by a five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice John Okoro effectively cleared the pathway for the Commission to investigate Dr. Odili’s eight year rule of the oil-rich state and brought to an end EFCC’s long-standing legal battle to probe the administration.

The legal dispute took off in 2007 when Odili, who served as Rivers State governor from 1999 to 2007, obtained an order of perpetual injunction from the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt barring the EFCC from investigating, arresting, or prosecuting Odili, as well as prohibiting the anti-graft agency from examining the finances of the Rivers State Government during his tenure. Though the EFCC has contested the injunction since 2008, the order has effectively shielded Odili from any scrutiny by the Commission for nearly two decades.

In 2018, the Court of Appeal granted the EFCC’s request for leave to appeal the Federal High Court’s decision, which prompted the Attorney General of Rivers State and the Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly to file separate appeals at the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the appellate court’s decision.

On March 10, 2025, the Supreme Court convened to hear the appeal filed by the litigants, marked SC/CV/318/2018. During the proceedings, Justice Okoro questioned the substance of the case, noting that the appeal was interlocutory in nature. The litigants’s lawyer, S. A. Somiari, SAN, argued that the appeal challenged the leave granted by the Court of Appeal for the EFCC to appeal the 2007 injunction. Justice Okoro, however, interjected, stating, “This is not the type of appeal we hear here,” and advised the parties to return to the Court of Appeal to have the substantive appeal heard before approaching the Supreme Court.

Recognizing the court’s position, Somiari applied to withdraw the appeal while the EFCC’s legal team, led by Abubakar Mahmud, SAN, alongside Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, and B. O. Obialo did not oppose the withdrawal.

Justice Okoro dismissed the appeal, stating, “The appeal is dismissed, having been withdrawn without any objection.”

A similar appeal, marked SC/CV/447/2018, filed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly was dismissed on the same ground.

Source: EFCC 

EFCC Alerts the Public on 58 Illegal Ponzi Scheme Operators

In line with its commitment to sanitising the financial space of the nation and offer the investing public adequate and reliable information on the activities of illegal ponzi scheme operators across the country, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, hereby alerts Nigerians on the operations of 58 companies posturing as investing entities and defrauding innocent Nigerians of their hard-earned money.

  The companies are neither registered with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, nor the Security Exchange Commission, SEC. The two regulators, in separate correspondences with the EFCC, denied that they are registered with them. 

    The Commission has charged many of the companies to court, with five of them convicted, another five pleaded guilty but awaiting review of facts while the rest are pending arraignment.

  Please, find below the names of the illegally operating companies:

Wales Kingdom Capital, Bethseida Group of Companies, AQM Capital Limited, Titan Multibusiness Investment Limited, Brickwall Global Investment Limited, Farmforte Limited & Agro Partnership Tech, Green Eagles Agricbusiness Solution Limited, Richfield Multiconcepts Limited, Forte Asset Management Limited, (Biss Networks Nigeria Limited, S Mobile Netzone Limited, Pristine Mobile Network), Letsfarm Integrated Services, Bara Finance & Investment Limited, Vicampro Farms Limited, Brooks Network Limited, Gas Station Supply Services Limited, Brass & Books Limited, (Annexation Biz Concept & Maitanbuwal Global Venturescrowdyvest Limited,) and Crowdyvest Limited, 

Others are : Jadek Agro Connect Limited, Adeeva Capital Limited, Oxford International Group and Oxford Gold Integrated, Skapomah Global Limited, MBA Trading & Capital Investment Limited, TRJ Company Limited, Farm4Me Agriculture Limited, Quintessential Investment Company, Adeprinz Global Enterprises, Rockstar Establishment Limited, SU.Global Investment, Citi Trust Funding PLC, Farm Buddy, Eatrich 369 Farms & Food, Globertrot Farmsponsors Nigeria Limited, Farm Sponsors Limited, Cititrust Credit Limited, Farmfunded Agroservices Limited, Adamakin Investment & Works Limited.

The rest include: Cititrust Holding PLC, Green Eagles Agribusiness Solutions Limited, Chinmark Homes & Shelters Limited, Emerald Farms & Consultant Limited, Ovaioza Farm Produce Storage Limited, Farm 360 & Agriculture Company, Requid Technologies Limited, West Agro Agriculture & Food Processing Limited, NISL Ventures Limited & Estate of Laolu Martins, XY Connect Investment Limited, River Branch Unique Investment Limited, Hallmark Capital Limited, CJC Markets Limited, Crowd One Investment, Farmkart Foods Limited, KD Likemind Stakeholders Limited, Holibiz Finance Limited, Ifeanyi Okpe Oil & Gas Services, Servapps Nigeria Limited, Barrick Gold Mining Company and 360 Agric Partners Limited.

 The EFCC assures the public of its vigilance and proactive monitoring of every entity and player in the nation’s economic space to safeguard the public from opportunistic and predatory operators and use the instrumentality of its anti-corruption mandate to stimulate growth in the economy.

 

Source: EFCC 

School Fee Payments, Funds from International Firms Benefitted Yahaya Bello’s Children- Witness

 Justice  Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Friday, March 7, 2025  heard further testimony from prosecution witness Nicholas Ojehomon, an internal auditor at the American International School Abuja, AISA, in the ongoing trial of a former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

 

 Ojehomon testified that all payments made for school fees at AISA, including those from international companies, were exclusively for the benefit of Bello’s children.

Led in evidence by  prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Ojehomon detailed a series of payments, referencing several exhibits that documented the transactions. He confirmed that multiple payments were made in favour of Bello’s children, Zara Omoneke Bello, Fatima Bello, Na’ima Ohunene Bello, and Farid Bello through different companies.

Pinheiro directed the witness to exhibit 13p1 and asked him to identify the document. Ojehomon responded, “It is a bank teller sent to AISA via email from Ali Bello.” When asked to read the name of the sender from the document, he stated, “It was sent in by Forza Oil and Gas, and the recipient is AISA.”

The prosecution counsel then inquired about the amount indicated on the teller. “The amount is $49,600,” Ojehomon confirmed. “Is there anywhere on that document indicating for whose benefit the money was sent?” Pinheiro asked. “Yes,” the witness responded, “Zara Omoneke Bello.”

Similar patterns emerged as Ojehomon reviewed additional exhibits: Exhibit 13p2: $44,700 was sent by Forza Oil and Gas to AISA for Fatima Bello, exhibit 13p3: $49,600 from Forza Oil and Gas to AISA for Zara Bello, exhibit 13p4: $44,700 from Forza Oil and Gas to AISA for Fatima Bello Oziohu, exhibit 13p5: $11,000 from Whales Oil and Gas to AISA with “Farid Oricha” listed under the contract number, exhibit 13p6: $78,160 from Alyeshua Provision Services to AISA, benefiting Fatima Ohizio Bello, exhibit 13p7: $42,170 from Alyeshua Provision Services to AISA for Na’ima Ohunene Bello.

Others are; exhibit 13p8: $44,700 from Forza Oil and Gas to AISA for Na’ima Ohunene Bello, exhibit 13p9: $75,000 from Unnaki General Trading Limited to AISA for Na’ima, exhibit 13p10: $75,000 from Unnaki General Trading Limited to AISA, with “Farid Edu Support” listed under the beneficiary.

Exhibit 13p11: $75,000 from Unnaki General Trading plc to AISA for Fatima, with “Invoice Reference: Fatima Edu Support, exhibit 13p12: $75,000 from Unnaki General Trading Limited to AISA, with “Invoice Reference: Zara Edu Support, exhibit 13p13: A $100,000 transfer from Manzi Issa, a Ugandan national. Exhibit 13p14: A $90,000 transfer from Dada Grant Merchant Limited, also based in Uganda.

The prosecution also presented exhibit 14p15-63, a series of receipts issued by AISA. When asked to confirm the names on the receipts, Ojehomon stated, “The receipts were all issued in the names of the four children of Yahaya Bello.” He went on to name them in exhibit 14p-16 as: Bello Nana, Fatima Zara Bello, Farid Bello, and Na’ima Bello. When asked to identify the parent of the named individuals from AISA’s records, Ojehomon confirmed, “From the record of AISA, the parent of the names mentioned is Yahaya Bello.”

Further, Pinheiro asked, “Please confirm to the court that none of the receipts from exhibit 13p16-53 were issued in favour of Forza Oil and Gas, Whales Oil and Gas, Alyeshua Solutions Services, Unnaki General Trading Limited, Dada Grant Merchant Limited of Kampala, or Manzi Issa of Uganda.” The witness responded, “I hereby confirm that none of the receipts issued by AISA were in favour of any of the names mentioned.”

During cross-examination, defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, attempted to tender certified true copies of receipts and rectification documents from a separate suit before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (Suit No. FCT/HC/CB/2574/2023, between Ali Bello and the Incorporated Trustees of the American International School). Daudu sought to introduce these documents as evidence.

However, prosecution counsel Pinheiro objected, arguing that “this is a criminal trial, and the prosecution is still leading its case.” He cited Section 232 of the Evidence Act, stating that “the only nature of evidence that can be tendered at cross-examination is a previous statement in writing by the witness for the purpose of contradicting his current testimony.” Pinheiro emphasized that “a party cannot be tendering documents from the bar at this stage; they must wait until their turn to prove their case.”

In response, Daudu insisted that the documents were relevant under Section 4 of the Evidence Act, arguing that “the prosecution itself has acknowledged their relevance.” He maintained that “the document is a public document and should be admitted.”

After hearing both arguments, Justice Emeka Nwite ruled that a decision on the admissibility of the documents would be made at the next hearing. The trial was adjourned to May 8 and 9, 2025, for further proceedings.

 

Source: EFCC