Crime
Court Backs Diezani’s Request To Amend Lawsuit Over EFCC’s Asset Forfeiture
Former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has been granted permission by the Federal High Court in Abuja to amend her suit challenging the final forfeiture of her assets by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court decision follows a motion filed by Alison-Madueke’s lawyer, Godwin Inyinbor, which was unopposed by the EFCC’s counsel, Divine Oguru.
Inyinbor informed the court that the motion had been duly filed and served, with no objections from the EFCC.
READ MORE: FG Recovers $52.88m Of Diezani Alison-Madueke’s Loot From U.S
Justice Inyang Ekwo then granted the request, allowing the former minister to amend her originating process.
Alison-Madueke has been given five days to file and serve the amended documents, while the EFCC has 14 days from the date of service to respond.
The case has been adjourned until March 17, 2025, for further mention.
Alison-Madueke’s legal battle revolves around the EFCC’s move to sell assets linked to her, which the commission claims were proceeds of criminal activities.
In her application, filed on January 6, 2023, the ex-minister challenged the validity of court orders issued for the forfeiture of her assets, asserting that they were made without proper jurisdiction and violated her constitutional rights.
“The various court orders issued in favour of the respondent and upon which the respondent issued the public notice were issued in breach of the applicant’s right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as altered, and other similar constitutional provisions,” Alison-Madueke argued in her motion.
She further claimed that she had never been served with the charge sheet or summons related to the criminal charges against her.
Alison-Madueke also accused the courts of being misled into issuing the forfeiture orders, which she said were based on “gross misstatements, misrepresentations, non-disclosure, concealment, and suppression of material facts.”
“The court has the power to set aside same ex debito justitiae, as a void order is as good as if it was never made at all,” she added.
In its counter-response, the EFCC rejected Alison-Madueke’s claims. Rufus Zaki, an EFCC operative, deposed that the former minister was involved in a criminal conspiracy, money laundering, and official corruption.
Zaki argued that the final forfeiture orders had been lawfully made in 2017 and had not been overturned on appeal.
“The final forfeiture of the assets, which were subject to the present application, was ordered by the court in 2017 and that this was not set aside or upturned on appeal,” Zaki stated in his affidavit.
The EFCC further explained that the forfeiture proceedings followed due process, including the publication of a notice inviting parties to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited.
In January 2023, the EFCC began plans for a public sale of assets, including properties believed to be linked to Alison-Madueke.
The commission has recovered over $153 million and more than 80 properties in connection with the ex-minister’s case.
Alison-Madueke, who served as Petroleum Minister from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, is said to have fled to the United Kingdom after her tenure in office.
In addition to her current case regarding the forfeiture of assets, she has also filed a separate suit against the EFCC, seeking N100 billion in damages for alleged defamatory publications.
The case is scheduled to resume on March 17, 2025, for further consideration.
Crime
Bauchi Police Nab Two After Armed Gang Invades Home, Cart Away ₦4m Property
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested two suspected armed robbers over their alleged involvement in a housebreaking and robbery operation in Gadau community, where a couple was tied up and valuables worth about ₦4 million were stolen.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Abubakar, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday, saying the suspects were apprehended following an intelligence-led investigation.
According to the police, the case was reported on July 3, 2026, by a 28-year-old resident of Gadau Town, who alleged that the attack occurred in the early hours of June 8.
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Abubakar said, “On 3rd July, 2026, a 28-year-old complainant, male, resident of Gadau Town, reported at Gadau Division that on 8th June, 2026, at about 0300hrs, five unknown hoodlums armed with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons broke into his residence.”
He explained that the armed men forced their way into the victim’s bedroom, threatened him and his wife with machetes, restrained them, and made away with several valuables.
The police spokesperson stated, “According to the complainant, the hoodlums forced open his bedroom door, intimidated him and his wife with machetes, tied them up, and carted away valuables. Items stolen include one Jincheng motorcycle, five Android mobile phones, 10 sets of wrappers, the sum of ₦1,000,000 cash, one cap, and three wristwatches, all valued at about ₦4,000,000.”
Following the report, detectives visited the scene and launched an intensive investigation, which led to the arrest of two suspects identified as Salisu Umar, 20, of Gadau Town, and Sadiq Shehu, 20, from Azare in Katagum Local Government Area.
Abubakar said, “Upon receipt of the report, police operatives visited the scene and commenced an intelligence-led investigation. As a result of diligent follow-up, two suspects were subsequently arrested.”
He added, “They are Salisu Umar, 20, of the same address, and Sadiq Shehu, 20, of Azare, Katagum Local Government Area. They underwent preliminary investigation at the Divisional Headquarters.”
The police further revealed that during an identification parade, the complainant’s wife positively identified one of the suspects.
“During an identification parade conducted, the complainant’s wife recognised and pointed out Sadiq Shehu as one of the persons who entered her room and forced her to open the main gate for the other accomplices,” Abubakar stated.
The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, praised the Divisional Police Officer and his team for the successful operation and directed that the matter be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a thorough investigation.
The commissioner also assured residents that security operatives were making efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects still at large, stressing that everyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The Bauchi State Police Command urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing credible information that could assist security agencies in combating criminal activities across the state.
Crime
Police Smash Robbery, Cybercrime Syndicate in Gombe, Arrest Eight Suspects
The Gombe State Police Command has arrested eight suspected members of a criminal syndicate allegedly involved in armed robbery and cyber-enabled financial fraud across several communities in the state.
The suspects were apprehended following investigations into a robbery incident reported on June 7, 2026, in Wuro Birji, Akko Local Government Area, where armed men reportedly invaded the homes of two residents, Hassan Muhammad and Jibril Hassan, wielding cutlasses and making away with their mobile phones.
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According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Buhari Abdullahi, the stolen devices were later used to gain unauthorized access to the victims’ bank accounts.
Police investigations revealed that the suspects fraudulently withdrew ₦296,790 from one victim’s GTBank account and also obtained a Quick Loan worth ₦205,205, bringing the total amount stolen to more than ₦500,000.
The command said a major breakthrough came after operatives conducted technical analysis of the fraudulent transactions and traced one of the transfers to a Moniepoint account.
The investigation led to the arrest of Mustapha Kabiru, popularly known as “Musty Bobo,” a 19-year-old ND II Computer Science student of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaltungo.
According to the police, Kabiru confessed during interrogation that he used information obtained from stolen mobile phones to access victims’ bank accounts and carry out fraudulent transactions.
His confession subsequently led to the arrest of seven additional suspects believed to be members of the same criminal network.
Further investigations revealed that the syndicate is allegedly linked to more than 13 similar robbery and cyber fraud incidents in Wuro Birji, Riyal, Bomala and Jauro Jatau communities.
The police said investigations are still ongoing, adding that efforts have been intensified to arrest other members of the syndicate who remain at large.
Commending the officers for the successful operation, the Commissioner of Police in Gombe State, Umar Ahmed Chuso, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating violent crime and cybercrime.
)He also urged members of the public to remain vigilant, protect their personal information and digital devices, and promptly report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
Crime
DSS Arraigns Five for Allegedly Hiding Wanted Ex-Gov Timipre Sylva
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five men before the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly concealing the whereabouts of former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, who has been declared wanted over his alleged involvement in a coup plot.
The defendants—Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifie Suobite—were brought before Justice Peter Lifu on a two-count charge of allegedly becoming accessories after the fact by hiding the whereabouts of the former governor.
SEE ALSO: DSS Foils Arms Smuggling Operation, Arrests Suspect Linked to Zamfara Bandit Leader
According to the prosecution, the accused allegedly concealed Sylva’s location on or about April 28, 2026, after he was implicated as a financier of an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Sylva, who also served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was said to have fled the country before details of the alleged coup plot became public.
The Federal Government subsequently declared him wanted and reportedly commenced moves to confiscate some of his identified properties.
When the charges were read in court, the five defendants pleaded not guilty.
Following their plea, prosecution counsel Emmanuel Orubor urged the court to remand the defendants and fix a date for trial, stating that the prosecution was prepared to call witnesses to prove its case.
However, defence lawyers representing the defendants applied for bail, arguing that their clients had been in DSS custody since October 25, 2025, and deserved to be released on liberal terms pending trial.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu held that the charges were bailable and granted each defendant bail in the sum of N5 million, with two sureties in like sum.
The court ordered that each surety must provide an affidavit of means, evidence of three years’ tax payment, proof of visible means of livelihood, and recent passport photographs.
The identities of the sureties are also to be verified by the court’s Registrar.
Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the defendants were ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The case was adjourned until July 22, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
The charges allege that the defendants knowingly concealed the whereabouts of Sylva, described by the prosecution as a fugitive, in violation of Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act.





