Tag: EFCC

EFCC arraigns former NSITF chair, Ngozi Olejeme, over alleged ₦1bn fraud

October 10, 2025 (updated October 10, 2025) Published by

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, arraigned Ngozi Olejeme, a former board chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja.

Olejeme was docked on eight counts bordering on money laundering, conversion, transfer, and possession of proceeds of unlawful activities totaling ₦1 billion.

One of the charges alleges that, while serving as NSITF board chairman in February 2012, she indirectly converted ₦321.6 million paid into the account of Adin Miles International Ltd, knowing it was part of proceeds from unlawful activity—an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).

Another count accuses her of procuring one Chuka C. Eze to convert $2 million into naira for payment to the same company, also alleged to be proceeds of crime.

Olejeme pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Following her plea, prosecution counsel Emenike Mgbemele requested a trial date to enable the EFCC call its 14 witnesses.

Her counsel, Emeka Ogboguo (SAN), urged the court to grant her bail pending trial.

Justice Nwite released the defendant to her counsel and adjourned the case to November 17, 2025, for hearing on the bail application.

Emefiele fights back in court over fraud trial, says EFCC has no role in the case

September 23, 2025 (updated September 23, 2025) Published by

Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, has asked a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court to foreclose the prosecution in his trial for alleged procurement fraud.

Emefiele is facing a 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, conferring corrupt advantage, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, and obtaining money by false pretence.

The charge, marked CR/577/2023, was filed by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and is before Justice Hamza Muazu.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Matthew Burkaa, counsel to Emefiele, noted that the prosecution was not represented in court.

Burkaa recalled that the matter had been adjourned till September 23 for continuation of the hearing but the lead prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, was absent and did not send a representative.

The defence lawyer said he was informed by the court’s registrar through a WhatsApp message that there was a letter before the court requesting an adjournment.

He added that upon arriving in court, he was shown a document sent by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which, he argued, was not the agency that filed the charge.

Burkaa said: “The charge before this court was brought by the officeof the Attorney-General of the Federation.

It is therefore surprising that the EFCC is the one asking for adjournment. My lord, the defendant and his lawyers came all the way from Lagos. There is no excuse for the prosecution’s absence.”

Burkaa prayed the court to foreclose the prosecution because there was no formal application from the AGF’s office for adjournment.

In his ruling, Justice Muazu said the court would grant the prosecution one last opportunity to present its case

The court will do the needful should the prosecution fail to appear on the next adjourned date,” he held.

The case was adjourned till October 22 and 23 for continuation of the hearing.

EFCC Secures Conviction Of Three Internet Fraudsters Arrested At Obasanjo Library

August 19, 2025 (updated August 19, 2025) Published by

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has secured the conviction of three more persons arrested at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) complex in Abeokuta, Ogun State, for internet fraud.

ObasEmpire reports that the development comes just days after a court convicted four others nabbed at a hotel within the OOPL premises. The EFCC confirmed that the fresh convictions bring the total number of convicted persons from the sting operation to seven.

Justice Deinde Dipeolu, a vacation judge of the Federal High Court, Lagos, handed down the ruling on Monday after the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them.

The convicts, Adenekan Ayinde, Oyatokun Qudus, and Adisa Okikiade, were among 93 suspected internet fraudsters arrested during an EFCC raid on August 10, 2025, at a pool party organised at the OOPL hotel. According to the anti-graft agency, the sting operation was carried out while the suspects were “celebrating their exploits.”

Adenekan Ayinde was arraigned for fraudulently impersonating a white woman from the United States on his Google account. He pleaded guilty and confirmed paying ₦200,000 in restitution to his victim. An iPhone 14 Pro Max recovered from him was admitted as evidence. He was sentenced to one month in prison with an option of a ₦300,000 fine.

Similarly, Oyatokun Qudus, who posed as “Eric Melissa” on Instagram to defraud unsuspecting victims, also pleaded guilty and was handed a one-month jail term with an option of a ₦300,000 fine.

The third convict, Adisa Okikiade, was found guilty of impersonating “Anthony Krenn” on Google with the intent to obtain undue advantage. He was sentenced equally after entering a guilty plea, with the option of a fine granted by the court.

EFCC prosecutor, Saadatu Yabo, said the agency would continue to arraign the remaining suspects “in batches” until all 93 individuals arrested at the OOPL are brought before the court.

BREAKING: Former Sokoto Governor Tambuwal Released After EFCC Detention

August 12, 2025 (updated August 12, 2025) Published by

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, a day after he was summoned and interrogated at the agency’s Abuja headquarters.

Tambuwal, a political associate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, was taken into custody on Monday following his arrival at the commission’s office around 11:30 a.m.

He was grilled over allegations of fraudulent cash withdrawals amounting to ₦189 billion.

According to EFCC sources, the investigation is centred on possible breaches of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The transactions under scrutiny were reportedly carried out during his tenure as governor from 2015 to 2023.

NAFDAC uncovers N1bn fake chemicals and food syndicate in Lagos

July 9, 2025 (updated July 9, 2025) Published by

Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has uncovered an illegal operation involving the sale of fake chemicals, expired food flavours, unauthorised fertilisers, and repackaged pharmaceutical raw materials worth over N1 billion in the Alapere area of Ketu, Lagos State.

NAFDAC disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

The agency said that three suspects were arrested while three warehouses filled with dangerous substances were sealed during the operation recently.

Director of Investigation and Enforcement at NAFDAC, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, who spoke during the raid, said the exercise followed credible intelligence about a criminal network engaged in large-scale food and chemical counterfeiting.

According to him, the suspects were repackaging expired chemicals redirected for the use of food and drug production.

This is one of the campaigns our agency is carrying out to protect the health of Nigerians.

Chemicals are either precursors for other materials or are directly used in the production of consumable goods. Using expired chemicals means that the final product cannot be safe or effective. That is a serious health risk,” Iluyomade said

On his part, Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research at NAFDAC, Dr. Leonard Omokpariola, gave a detailed list of the dangerous items recovered from the site, including food flavouring, beef, chicken, tiger nuts, and others.

We found expired food flavourings, roasted beef, roasted chicken, Chinook, tiger nut, and also active pharmaceutical ingredients like metronidazole benzoate,” he said.

Reactions trails as peter obi’s comments over VDM Arrest

May 6, 2025 (updated May 6, 2025) Published by

Several reactions have trailed the comment that was made by the former governor of Anambra state and Labour Party, LP, candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Gregory Obi after he heard that social media influencer, Martin Vincent Otse popularly known as VeryDarkMan has been arrested.

According to VANGUARD, VeryDarkMan was arrested and detained by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC after he visited a bank in Abuja.

However, the former governor of Anambra state has now shared his thoughts. In a post that he shared on his official X handle on Sunday, he condemned the manner in which the social media influencer was arrested.

Here is what Peter Obi wrote on his official X handle

“If Nigerians begin to struggle to distinguish between legitimate arrests and unlawful abductions, we will lose a vital layer of national security and accountability”.

Kindly read a few comments from some of the people who shared their thoughts on the post below;

Fugitive Ex-Governor Yahaya Bello Seeks Asylum In Niger Republic

August 6, 2024 (updated August 6, 2024) Published by

Obasempire reports that fugitive former Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello is seeking political asylum in Niger Republic, following an arrangement facilitated by Nigerian Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

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Bello, whose eight-year tenure in Kogi was marked by authoritarianism, violence, and alleged elimination of political rivals, has been evading capture since the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) issued a warrant for his arrest over accusations of embezzling over N80 billion.

Sources indicate that Matawalle has a close relationship with General Abdourahamane Tchiani’s military regime, which has assured protection for his investments in Niger.

Sources in Abuja and Niamey, the capital of Niger, reveal that Matawalle negotiated the arrangement to keep Yahaya Bello secure in Niger, with representatives of Tchiani’s military junta involved in the discussions.

“Part of the deal involves the former Kogi Governor investing in Niger Republic and paying millions of unspecified sums to support his asylum.

“The asylum will guarantee his free movement in Niger Republic, Burkina Faso and Mali, the three countries with military governments and bilateral relations,” a source privy to the development told our correspondent in confidence.

Recall that after Yahaya Bello was smuggled out of his home in Zone 4, Wuse District Abuja, by his successor, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo when officials of the EFCC arrived to arrest him, he has not been seen again in public.

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Matawalle, a close friend of GYB as the ex-Kogi State is fondly known, arranged an asylum for him, allegedly using military personnel under his watch to smuggle him through Kebbi state via illela border with two dark tinted hilux pick up vans and a Land Cruiser Sports Utility Vehicle.

Credible intels accused Matawalle of aiding the military junta in Niger Republic with information from the Nigerian government in exchange for protection of his huge investment in the tiny country running into millions of dollars.

Some of the offshore investments are allegedly proceeds from the financial windfall from the office of ex- National Security Adviser, Col Ibrahim Dasuki, oil bunkering and looting of Zamfara State resources where he served as Governor for four years.

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