Author: Staff Editor

More than 11 years after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, and his former Commissioner for Finance, Omodachi Oklobia, over an alleged ₦3.1 billion fraud, the high-profile case remains unresolved amid a series of adjournments, judicial reassignments, and procedural delays. The case, which is currently before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has become one of the longest-running corruption trials involving a former state governor in Nigeria. The EFCC first arraigned Suswam and Oklobia on November 4, 2015, on allegations bordering on money laundering and the diversion of funds…

Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, June 5, 2026, reserved ruling until June 9, 2026, on the bail application filed by social media influencer, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka (a.k.a. Blessing CEO), who is standing trial over an alleged ₦36 million fraud. The defendant is facing a two-count charge filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of ₦36 million. During the hearing of the bail application, counsel to the defendant, P.I. Nwafuru, urged the court to…

The trial of five defendants, including Indian nationals, a British citizen, and foreign-registered companies over an alleged $42.5 million rice import fraud involving Ecobank Plc, was stalled on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Lagos after the trial judge, Justice Akintayo Aluko, recused himself from the case following allegations of misconduct and bias. The defendants — Prem Garg and Devashish Garg (Indian nationals), Marcus Wade (a British citizen), Agrico Agbe Limited, and Wilben Trade Limited — are standing trial on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, cheating, and conversion in connection with alleged fraudulent rice…

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has given the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), a 14-day ultimatum to initiate the recovery of $120.5 billion and N66.4 billion allegedly owed to the Federation Account by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), international oil companies, and other operators in the oil and gas sector. In a letter dated June 2, 2026, written on behalf of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), Falana cited court judgments, government reports, and findings by oversight agencies, claiming that the funds comprise uncollected royalties, proceeds of crude…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, arraigned the Managing Director of Abu-Haneefa Oil and Gas Ltd, Musa Farouk Abubakar; his company, Abu-Haneefa Oil and Gas Ltd; and one Sandra Chizoba Attoh before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, over an alleged fraud. They were arraigned on an amended 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud, corruption, and money laundering to the tune of ₦691,677,310.00 (Six Hundred and Ninety-One Million, Six Hundred and Seventy-Seven Thousand, Three Hundred and Ten Naira). Count 10 of the charge reads: “That you, Musa Farouk Abubakar, being…

The Senate has ramped up calls for urgent action by the Federal Government and security agencies to secure the release of victims still being held captive following the recent abduction of students, pupils, and teachers from schools in Oyo State. The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Sen. Abdulfatai Buhari, who drew the attention of the upper chamber to the attack in which 46 persons, including schoolchildren and teachers, were abducted. However, lawmakers declined a proposal seeking an audit of military spending despite growing concerns over persistent insecurity, banditry, kidnapping, and insurgency across the country. The proposal…

Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, deferred ruling on a motion seeking to discontinue the trial of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to the day of final judgment, in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the former minister alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, and son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, on an amended six-count charge bordering on contract fraud involving Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, a company linked to his daughter, to the…

The coroner’s inquest into the death of 21-month-old Master Nkanu Adichie-Esege, son of renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr. Ivara Esege, suffered a major setback on Wednesday after Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital informed the Coroner’s Court that it had obtained an order from the Lagos State High Court staying further proceedings. The matter came before Coroner Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji at Court 9, Igbosere Magisterial District, Yaba, Lagos, and was scheduled for the commencement of witness testimony. Counsel to Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Professor Taiwo Osipitan, SAN, told the court that the hospital had initiated judicial review proceedings challenging, among other issues,…

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced four out of the five terrorists involved in the attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, in which 43 worshippers were killed, to death by hanging. The four convicted terrorists are: Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), and Abdulhaleem Idris (25). They were sentenced to death by hanging, while Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47) was discharged and acquitted of all charges. Justice Emeka Nwite found the four terrorists guilty on all nine-count charges brought against them by the Department of State Services (DSS) and ordered…

Justice A. I. Akobi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Kubwa, Abuja, on Monday, June 1, 2026, slated June 15, 2026, for judgment in the case involving the alleged criminal impersonation of officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and extortion by one Salifu Olije Mustapha. At Monday’s proceedings, the EFCC presented its first prosecution witness (PW1), Stanley Ujilibo, against the defendant. The witness, an investigator with the EFCC, disclosed that the Commission received intelligence on how the defendant and two others, identified as Haruna Mamuda Adamu and Abubakar Umar Hamisu — who are currently under…