Crime
Court Rejects Bid By Briton, Indians To Prevent Arrest, Extradition In Ecobank Fraud
A Federal High Court in Lagos has rejected attempts by three foreign nationals to overturn a bench warrant issued for their arrest and extradition on charges related to a $42.48 million fraud.
The defendants—Indian nationals Prem Garg and Devashish Garg, and Briton Marcus Wade, chairman of Wilben Trade Limited—are accused of defrauding Ecobank Plc.
The allegations stem from a petition filed by Ecobank on October 7, 2022, with the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), claiming the trio, along with their companies Wilben Trade Limited in Dubai and Agrico Agbe Limited, secured a $42.48 million loan under false pretenses.
Read Also: Barcelona Suffers First Gamper Trophy Loss In 12 Years
The loan, granted in 2015, was intended for the importation of rice, but according to the charges brought by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the defendants allegedly failed to deliver on their commitments, prompting legal action.
The case, marked FHC/L/562C/2022, includes multiple counts of fraud against the defendants, who have yet to appear in court despite the bank’s efforts to recover the funds.
The charge reads, “That you, Prem Garg, Devashish Garg both of Iand ndian nationality, Agrico Agbe Limited (a company registered in Nigeria), Wilben Trade Limited, Dubai (a company registered in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai), Marcus Wade (Chairman of Wilben Trade Ltd, Dubai) of British nationality, sometime in the month of May and September, 2015 at Ecobank Plc, Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this honourable court conspired between yourselves to commit an offence thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 422 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you, Prem Garg, Devashish Garg both of Indian nationality, Agrico Agbe Limited (a company registered in Nigeria), Wilben Trade Limited, Dubai (a company registered in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai), Marcus Wade (Chairman of Wilben Trade Ltd, Dubai) of British nationality, sometime in the month of May and September, 2015 at Eco Bank Plc. Lagos thin the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired between yourselves to commit an offence to wit: Cheating in that you caused Ecobank Plc to deliver monies to the tune of $42,485,900 which was intended by contract for the purchase and import into Nigeria India Parboiled rice but never utilised the sum of money for the contract and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 421 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap, C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
Despite the charges pending against them, the defendants did not show up in court to enter their pleas prompting the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to seek a bench warrant and extradition order.
In response, the AGF’s lawyer, Pius Akutah, filed an application for these orders, which was granted by presiding judge Akintayo Aluko in November 2023.
However, the defendants, represented by lawyers Dele Belgore and Dada Awosika, subsequently filed motions to overturn the arrest and extradition orders.
This move was contested by the AGF’s counsel, Kehinde Bode-Ayeni, who argued against quashing the orders.
Bode-Ayeni assumed responsibility for the case after Pius Akutah, who is now the Executive Secretary and CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, transitioned from the role.
In a ruling delivered on Monday, Judge Akintayo Aluko stated that proceedings before a magistrate court in Delhi, India, cannot serve as a “stay” in the ongoing criminal proceedings in Nigeria. He emphasized that the case is not solely a criminal matter but a proceeding under the jurisdiction of a Nigerian court as established by the Nigerian Constitution.
Additionally, Judge Aluko clarified that an order for maintaining the status quo issued by another court does not override the criminal charges pending in his court.
Judge Akintayo Aluko ruled that the applications filed by the defendants “lack merit” and subsequently dismissed both motions. The judge then adjourned the case to October 24 for further proceedings.
Meanwhile, on August 7, a statement circulated online claiming that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was investigating Ecobank over allegations of abusive proceedings and communications involving Wilben Trade Limited and Marcus Wade.
However, the CBN has denied any investigation into Ecobank.
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.
Corps Members Safe In Benue, Gov Alia Assures As Orientation Kicks Off
JUST IN: Reps Committee Finally Meets Rivers Sole Administrator After Delays
World Bank Appoints Aliko Dangote To Elite Group
Ministry Appoints New Director For DUFUTH, Uburu
CVFF- House of Reps Backs Marine & Blue Economy Ministry
