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.
Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested Basil Iwoba Ochili, Managing Director of Debasilio Construction and Estate Development Limited, over alleged fraudulent activities involving N128 million.
The EFCC disclosed this in a statement posted on its official X account on Wednesday.
According to the commission, Ochili was arrested for allegedly using his company for fraudulent activities, including “obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N128,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Twenty-eight Million Naira).”
SEE ALSO: EFCC Warns Lawyers Against Charging Clients in Foreign Currencies
The EFCC said Ochili was arrested based on a claim by a petitioner who alleged that sometime in September 2022, the suspect falsely presented himself as the owner of five plots of land situated beside Anambra State Secretariat by Stamford Hotel, Aroma Junction, Awka, Anambra State, and falsely offered the property for sale.
“Relying on the suspect’s representation, the petitioner purchased the said plots in the sum of N128,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Twenty-Eight Million Naira), which was paid into the suspect’s company account,” the EFCC said.
However, the commission said the petitioner was unable to take possession of the land.
Preliminary investigations, according to the EFCC, showed that the suspect knew that the land “encroached on Anambra State Government Secretariat’s land” but allegedly went ahead to sell it to the petitioner.
The commission further said that instead of refunding the petitioner’s money, Ochili “offered him two dud cheques.”
“Further preliminary investigations showed that the suspect used part of the money to settle his debts,” the EFCC said.
The commission also stated that Ochili’s company, Debasilio Construction and Estate Development Limited, “has never been tax compliant.”
The EFCC said the suspect will be charged to court after investigations are concluded.
“The suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” the commission stated.
The Federal High Court (FHC) sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has sentenced nine convicted crude oil thieves to 10 years in prison without an option of fine following a joint intelligence-led operation by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Navy (NN).
The convicts were among 19 suspects arrested earlier this year after security operatives caught them allegedly stealing crude oil from an oil well head identified as Asabo-D in Ibeno Local Council of the state.
READ ALSO: DPRP to Favour Small Investors in Event of IPO Oversubscription
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Joy Ikpeme found the nine men guilty on a two-count charge of conspiracy and tampering with an oil pipeline, contrary to Section 1(7) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
The judge sentenced each of them to five years’ imprisonment on the first count and 10 years on the second count, with no option of fine. The sentences are to run concurrently.
The remaining 10 suspects arrested during the operation are expected to face further legal proceedings.
The arrests followed an intelligence-led operation conducted by the DSS in collaboration with the NN as part of efforts to disrupt crude oil theft and illegal bunkering activities in the oil-producing communities of Akwa Ibom.
The conviction was described by a security source as another significant step in the sustained campaign against oil theft, particularly along Nigeria’s maritime and riverine areas.
According to the source, crude oil theft and illegal bunkering have continued to deprive the country of vital oil revenue while inflicting serious environmental damage on host communities.
The source said the latest conviction underscored the determination of security agencies to ensure that those involved in the theft of the nation’s crude resources are brought to justice.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has called on legal practitioners in the country to desist from the illegal and unethical practice of charging clients in foreign currencies.
The Commission disclosed this in a post on its official X account on Monday.
SEE ALSO: Expose Stolen Nigerian Assets Abroad, Get Up to 5% Reward — EFCC
The call was made on Friday, September 11, 2026, in Lagos by the Acting Zonal Director of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, ACE I Bawa Usman Kaltungo, when he received a delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos Task Force on Illegal Practice of Law, led by its Head, Moshood Abiola.
Speaking during the interactive session, Kaltungo expressed concern over the activities of lawyers who engage in “illegal and unethical practices,” stressing that the Commission would not hesitate to prosecute anyone found culpable.
He also urged legal practitioners to desist from charging their clients in foreign currencies, warning that such practice could attract regulatory action.
Gas Industry Must Commercialise Methane – NLNG
2027: South Should Complete 8 Years Before North Takes Over — Shehu Sani
2027: Wike’s 419ners, Lazy Remarks Against APC Gov in Bad Taste — Aliyu
2027: Obi Wants to Transform Nigeria After 8 Years of Failure in Anambra — Onanuga
2027: Sowore Disowns Involvement in Utomi-Led Single-Candidate Talks
Chelsea Confirm Major Ownership Change as Clearlake Takes Full Control
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Tems Sets New Record On Billboard Hot 100 Chart
