The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has presented four more witnesses in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The anti graft agency called the witness on Monday.

Mamman is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503.73 (Thirty-three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, Seventy-three Kobo).

At the proceedings, prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, told the court that the EFCC was prepared to further prove its case with four more witnesses: PW4, 5, 6, and 7, whom he said were Compliance Officers at Zenith, UBA, GTB and Wema Banks, respectively.

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The witnesses are PW4 Mishelia R.B, PW5 Mayowa Itiku, PW6 Lily Marama and PW7 Oluwunmi Ogunloye.

While being led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, the witnesses took turns to inform the court that they received correspondences respectively from the EFCC to provide details of account openings and statements in respect of ten business entities which are:  Sami Court Resort Limited, Golden Bond Nigeria Limited, Samson Bitrus, Gurupche Business Enterprise, Shipikin Global Enterprises, Silverline Ventures, Breathable Investment Ltd, First Class Contraction Ltd, Spinhillls Biz International Ltd and Fulex Utility Concept Ltd.

Oyedepo presented bundles of documents of those entities which the witnesses  affirmed before the court that they emanated from their banks and were generated from their databases.

After confirming the documents as their bank documents, the prosecuting counsel tendered them in evidence before the court.

Justice Omotosho thereafter  adjourned the matter till January 22,  23 and 24, 2025, for continuation of hearing.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed the hearing of a N300 million fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by detained singer, Darlington Achakpo, popularly known as Speed Darlington, against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

The case, presided over by Justice Musa Liman, was adjourned to January 27.

During Monday’s proceedings, counsel for the IGP, CSP Audu Garba, requested additional time to review a further affidavit served on him in court by Speed Darlington’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshal.

Justice Liman granted the request, allowing Garba more time to determine if the affidavit raised new legal or factual issues.

Marshal informed the court that the matter was initially scheduled for hearing but explained that while the police had served their counter affidavit on Friday, his team had only just filed their further affidavit on Monday morning. With the court’s permission, Marshal served the document to Garba in open court.

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Garba objected to proceeding immediately, stating that he needed time to study the new affidavit thoroughly before responding.

The court granted the adjournment, setting January 27 as the date for the adoption of arguments.

In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1832/2024, Speed Darlington is challenging his arrest and detention, which he claims violates his fundamental rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. Filed by human rights activist Deji Adeyanju, the suit seeks several orders, including the immediate and unconditional release of the singer or his production in court to justify his detention.

Additionally, Speed Darlington is demanding N300 million in damages, citing his alleged unlawful and continued detention since 2024.

The case highlights concerns over rights violations and has garnered significant public attention.

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has successfully rescued a director in the state’s Ministry of Justice and his niece, who were kidnapped by five armed men in December 2024.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, disclosed this during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Uyo on Monday, detailing how the victims were abducted and taken to a forest in Ikot Ukpong Village, Abak Local Government Area.

“On December 2024, a distress call was received that a Director with the Ministry of Justice, Akwa Ibom State, and his niece were kidnapped by five armed men.

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Our operatives immediately swung into action and busted the kidnappers’ den in a thick forest located within Ikot Ukpong Village, Abak Local Government,” CP Azare explained.

The victims were found unharmed inside an abandoned soak-away within the forest. The operatives also recovered the victims’ car, which had been abandoned along Etinan Road, and a Toyota Sienna vehicle used in the abduction.

“Two of the suspects were neutralized during the operation. Further investigation led to the arrest of two others identified as Ability Etim Samuel, aged 45, and David Vincent Samuel, aged 36,” the commissioner added.

CP Azare urged the public to remain vigilant and provide timely information to assist the police in maintaining law and order.