Crime
Court Adjourns Yahaya Bello’s Money Laundering Case Until April
The trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello in an alleged money laundering case has been adjourned until April 3 and April 24, 2025, by the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
Justice Maryann Anenih granted the adjournment on Wednesday after hearing the testimony of the first prosecution witness, property developer Fabian Nworah.
The prosecution, led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, had planned to call five witnesses on Wednesday, but Justice Anenih could only accommodate one witness due to a tight schedule.
READ ALSO: EFCC, NGX RegCo Strengthen Partnership On Market Integrity
The court also announced it would not sit on Thursday as previously scheduled.
Joseph Daudu, SAN, representing the 1st and 2nd defendants, raised a key issue during the proceedings, stating that the prosecution had not provided the second defendant’s statements on oath to the defense team.
“The statements of the second defendant have not been served on us to be able to know if we will be able to represent him or not. So, it is a serious handicap on us. They need to serve us all the statements made by the defendants,” Daudu said.
He also objected to the prosecution’s witness, Fabian Nworah, emphasizing that the defense had no prior knowledge of the witness. “Legal proceedings should not be a ‘hide and seek’ game,” Daudu asserted.
“The prosecution is required to provide the witness’ statements on oath in advance so the defense can adequately prepare for cross-examination.”
Abubakar Aliyu, SAN, counsel for the 3rd defendant, also supported this argument, requesting the court to order the prosecution to provide statements of the 2nd and 3rd defendants, along with relevant documents, including a forensic expert’s report.
Aliyu noted that the statements were not included in the proof of evidence served to the defense. “I am also applying that the court order the prosecution to provide us with copies of the recovered digital device and the report or the extract therefrom,” he said.
In response, prosecution counsel Pinheiro dismissed the defense’s objections, accusing them of attempting to delay the trial.
“The constitutional provisions, which they rely on, do not imply that the prosecution should provide all the documents that it relies on,” Pinheiro argued. He further emphasized that the prosecution had served the proof of evidence on November 27, 2024, and that the defense should formally request any additional documents they needed.
Despite these objections, Justice Anenih directed the prosecution to proceed with the case and declined the defense’s request for an adjournment.
The prosecution then called Fabian Nworah to the stand, who provided crucial testimony about a property transaction involving Shehu Bello and EFAB Property Nigeria Limited.
Nworah explained that he was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 8, 2023, regarding a sale of property at No. 1 Ikogosi Street, Maitama.
He stated that the property had been sold to Shehu Bello but the sale agreement listed Dr. Bello Ohiani instead.
Nworah further testified that Shehu Bello had later approached EFAB Property, claiming the property was under EFCC investigation, and demanded a refund of the N550 million paid for it.
EFAB Property complied with the EFCC’s request, refunding the full amount in two installments—N400 million and N150 million.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a court order to arrest and detain six individuals suspected of orchestrating a cryptocurrency investment fraud worth over one billion dollars.
On Thursday, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled in favor of the EFCC’s ex parte application, allowing the agency to apprehend the promoters of Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX).
The judge emphasized the strength of the application presented by EFCC counsel, Fadila Yusuf.
READ MORE: EFCC Issues Arrest Warrant For Socialite Aisha Achimugu
“I have listened to the submission of the learned counsel for the applicant (EFCC). I have also gone through the affidavit evidence with exhibits thereto along with the written address. I am of the view, and I so hold, that the application is meritorious. Consequently, the application is granted as prayed,” Justice Nwite declared.
The six individuals named in the case are Adefowora Abiodun Olanipekun, Adefowora Oluwanisola, Emmanuel Uko, Seyi Oloyede, Avwerosuo Otorudo, and Chukwuebuka Ehirim.
All are accused of using their company, ST Technologies International Limited, to promote CBEX and mislead investors with promises of extraordinary returns.
According to the EFCC, intelligence received in April 2025 indicated that the suspects ran an elaborate scheme in which investors were urged to convert their digital assets into USDT, a stablecoin, and deposit them into CBEX’s wallet.
Initially, users were allowed to monitor their investments, but after accumulating deposits exceeding $1 billion, the platform reportedly became inaccessible.
The anti-graft agency’s preliminary investigation revealed that the investment platform, though promoted by a registered company, lacked proper licensing from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Additionally, the accused had allegedly vacated their known addresses in Lagos and Ogun States, making it difficult to track them down.
Fadila Yusuf, representing the EFCC, argued that the defendants’ actions violated several laws and that arrest warrants were crucial to advance the investigation.
She noted that the EFCC received actionable intelligence alleging various criminal activities involving the suspects, and stressed the commission’s responsibility in preventing and investigating financial crimes.
“The defendants are at large, and a warrant of arrest is required to arrest the defendants for proper investigation and prosecution of this case,” Yusuf said.
The commission has requested that the suspects be placed on the red watch list to facilitate their apprehension.
It maintains that granting the application serves the interest of justice and is necessary to proceed with prosecution based on the evidence gathered so far.
A TikTok content creator, Emmanuel Ajibade, appeared before an Akure Magistrates’ Court on Thursday over allegations of cyberbullying a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officer.
According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Taiwo Oniyere, the incident took place in the Higher Height Area of Orita Obele in Akure.
Oniyere explained that Ajibade, along with unidentified accomplices still at large, conspired to commit a series of offences including cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and criminal defamation.
READ ALSO: EFCC Re-Arrests Popular Kano TikToker For Naira Abuse
The prosecutor claimed that Ajibade used his TikTok account, checkers69, to circulate false information with the intention of causing public nuisance and targeting an FRSC official, Ibitoye Samuel.
“His action also resulted in intimidation, enmity and hatred, ill will and needless anxiety for Ibitoye Samuel, an official of FRSC in the state,” Oniyere told the court.
He added that the offences violated Section 27(b) and Section 24(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015.
Based on these allegations, Oniyere urged the court to order Ajibade’s remand in a correctional facility under Section 269(2)(b) of the Nigerian legal code.
Ajibade’s legal representative, Mr. A. F. Awala, responded by requesting a short adjournment to enable the defence team to file a counter-affidavit.
In her ruling, Chief Magistrate Olateju Odenusi-Fadeyi ordered that the defendant be held at the SWAT Police Station rather than a correctional centre.
She also instructed the police to ensure Ajibade receives necessary medical care while in custody.
The case was adjourned until April 30, 2025, for mention.
A senior lecturer at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, Dr Usman Aliyu, has been dismissed from his position following allegations of sexual harassment brought against him by a postgraduate student, Mrs Kamila Rufai Aliyu.
The decision was ratified during the university’s 96th regular council meeting held on April 11, 2025, and made public through the ATBU Herald (Vol. 39 No. 5, April 22), the institution’s official publication.
The dismissal came after the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee found Dr Aliyu guilty of misconduct.
READ ALSO: How Natasha Akpoti Made False Sexual Harassment Claims Against Me – Omokri
The disciplinary panel concluded that the lecturer engaged in an inappropriate relationship with Mrs Kamila Aliyu, a married student from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Engineering Technology.
According to the university’s dismissal letter, “Following the report of the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee that found you guilty of an indecent relationship involving a student of the university, Mrs Kamila Rufai Aliyu… the council has subsequently approved your dismissal from the services of the university with immediate effect.”
Mrs Aliyu had submitted a petition to the university in 2024, accusing Dr Aliyu of sexually harassing her and alleging that he threatened to jeopardize her academic progress if she refused his advances.
In response to the accusations, Dr Aliyu filed a defamation lawsuit against the student, her department, and the university. Despite the legal action, the university continued its internal investigation, which led to the eventual dismissal.
The university noted that the decision was in accordance with “Chapter 3, Item F, I (o) of the Senior Staff Conditions of Service of the University,” as stated in a release by the Senior Deputy Registrar, Senior Staff Establishment, Alhaji Abdullahi Suleiman.
Furthermore, the lecturer has been instructed to return all university belongings in his custody.
“You are hereby directed to hand over all the property of the university in your possession to the Head of Department and your identification card to the Chief Security Officer of the university,” the letter added.
‘Na Dreadlock Dey Cause Insecurity?’ – Daddy Showkey Slams Gov Bago Over Arrest Order
$1bn Crypto Fraud: Court Authorizes EFCC To Arrest Six CBEX Promoters
Jude Okoye Freed After Two-Month Detention Over Alleged N1.38bn Fraud
Obi, Kwankwaso Helped Tinubu In 2023, Will Do The Same In 2027, Says Nigerian Activist
Ibas Makes First Appearance At NEC Meeting As Rivers Sole Administrator
