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Court Rejects Bid By Briton, Indians To Prevent Arrest, Extradition In Ecobank Fraud

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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.

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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.

 

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Taraba SEMA Boss Faces Fresh Questions Over ₦49.4m Inflows, ₦44m Hospital Payments

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The Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. Echuseh Audu, is facing fresh questions over financial transactions involving accounts associated with her and Katuka’s Kitchen, a registered business name linked to her.

Financial records reportedly obtained in connection with the allegations show several transactions involving accounts associated with Audu and the business, including payments totalling ₦44 million to Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja.

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According to the records, ₦12,190,726.80 was transferred on October 28, 2025, from the Taraba State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (LPRES) Draw Down Account at Zenith Bank to an account belonging to Katuka’s Kitchen.

The same amount was subsequently transferred back to the LPRES Draw Down Account, according to the records.

Other transactions reportedly involving Katuka’s Kitchen and accounts associated with Audu included ₦15 million transferred in May 2024, ₦7 million in August 2024, ₦5.25 million in January 2026 and ₦5,000,020 in February 2026.

The recorded inflows reportedly amounted to ₦49,440,746.80.

The records also showed three payments to Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja — ₦15 million on February 20, 2026, ₦14 million on February 26, and another ₦15 million whose transaction date was not indicated.

The three payments totalled ₦44 million.
Sources close to Audu reportedly said the hospital confirmed that the payments were for a young girl who had died.

Questions have also been raised about the relationship between Audu and Katuka’s Kitchen, including a claim that she had resigned from the business at the Corporate Affairs Commission but remained linked to one of its bank accounts.

The transactions have also raised questions about possible conflict-of-interest issues, particularly concerning the LPRES transaction involving Katuka’s Kitchen.

Previous Relief Material Allegations
The latest financial questions come months after Audu faced separate allegations concerning the alleged diversion of relief materials meant for vulnerable residents of Taraba State.

In March 2026, allegations circulated on social media accusing the agency of diverting more than 10,000 bags of rice and over 1,000 cartons of groundnut oil allegedly meant for internally displaced persons and other vulnerable residents.

Audu denied the allegations and voluntarily presented herself to security and investigative authorities, including the police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Special Adviser on Security to the Taraba State Governor and the state Ministry of Justice.

She requested a comprehensive investigation into the allegations.

The earlier allegations had not been publicly substantiated with verifiable evidence at the time of the reports.

 

 

 

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Crime

Lagos Naming Ceremony Turns Tragic As Police Shoot 11-Year-Old Girl, Elderly Man

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A naming ceremony in the Orile Iganmu area of Lagos State reportedly turned tragic after police officers allegedly discharged firearms, leaving an 11-year-old girl and an elderly man with gunshot injuries.

The incident reportedly occurred at about 8pm on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, around Ekunjinmi/Wewe Street, Orile Iganmu.

According to the Movement for the Transformation of Nigeria (MOTION), Apapa Coordinating Structure, police officers arrived at the gathering and attempted to stop the event, including the activities of the DJ.

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MOTION said residents resisted the move, stating that there was no apparent justification for stopping the gathering.
The group alleged that firearms were discharged during the ensuing incident, injuring two residents.

The 11-year-old victim, identified as Mistura Murtala, was reportedly shot in the leg and rushed to Olukayode Hospital in Orile Iganmu, where she is receiving emergency medical treatment.

MOTION said it had spoken with members of Mistura’s family, including her mother and brother, and was monitoring her condition.

An elderly man identified as Sodiq Aremu was also reportedly shot in the neck. The group said he remains hospitalised and has been advised to undergo emergency surgery estimated to cost about ₦500,000.

MOTION said it was particularly concerned by eyewitness accounts identifying a police officer popularly known as “Kola” as allegedly being involved in the incident.

According to the group, an eyewitness claimed to have seen the officer discharge a firearm, resulting in the young girl’s injury.

MOTION stressed that the allegation must be properly investigated and corroborated through available evidence and witness testimony.

The group demanded answers over why police officers were called to the gathering, what offence or disturbance they were responding to, why the ceremony was being stopped and which officers were present at the scene.

It also demanded an investigation into who discharged the firearm and why a firearm was allegedly discharged in a populated residential environment.

MOTION further called for the preservation of photographs, videos, medical records, witness accounts, police reports and other relevant evidence, including CCTV footage where available.

The group also raised concerns over an allegation that a traditional community leader, locally referred to as the Baale, told Mistura’s parent that her injury was caused by tear gas rather than a firearm.

MOTION said the claim should be tested against medical and other available evidence, stressing that it was treating the matter as an allegation requiring verification.

The group also said it had received information about an earlier alleged encounter between Aremu and the officer known as “Kola”, including an allegation of a previous arrest, but noted that the claim required verification.

MOTION acknowledged that the Divisional Police Officer of Orile Police Station had been informed of the incident and that medical assistance was reportedly provided to one of the victims.

However, it insisted that the provision of medical assistance did not remove the need for a transparent investigation into the circumstances of the shooting, who discharged the firearm and whether the conduct complied with the law and applicable police rules.

The group called for an immediate, impartial and transparent investigation, the identification of all police officers involved, full medical support for both victims and protection for the victims, their families and witnesses.

It also demanded accountability if the investigation establishes misconduct or unlawful conduct, as well as appropriate redress and support for the victims.

MOTION said it was not calling for mob justice, violence or the prejudging of any criminal trial.

The group maintained that police officers entrusted with firearms to protect lives and maintain public safety must exercise force lawfully, responsibly and with necessary restraint.

It said the circumstances surrounding the shooting must be investigated and that the victims and their families deserved answers.

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Crime

Police Probe PCRC Chairman Olaniyan Over Alleged ₦178m Financial Crimes

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The Nigeria Police Force has commenced steps to investigate alleged financial crimes involving more than ₦178 million against the National Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Alhaji Mogaji Ibrahim Olaniyan, and other national executive officers of the organisation.

The allegations were contained in a petition submitted to the Inspector-General of Police on July 13, 2026, by the law firm of A.F. Obainoke & Co. on behalf of some elected national officers of the PCRC.

According to the petition, Olaniyan and some other national executive officers were accused of financial crimes involving more than ₦178 million.

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The petitioners said they were elected into various national positions in the PCRC in 2022, including the position of National Auditor, while Olaniyan was elected National Chairman and subsequently sworn into office.
In a letter dated July 20, 2026, the office of the Inspector-General of Police forwarded the petition to the Director of Legal Services of the Nigeria Police Force for appropriate action.

The letter, signed by CP Lateef Ahmed, Principal Staff Officer, conveyed the directive of the Inspector-General for the matter to be handled by the legal services department.

The document, according to the report, was received by the Directorate of Legal Services on July 28, 2026.

The latest development comes amid ongoing allegations and internal disputes surrounding the leadership of the PCRC under Olaniyan.

Previous Allegations

The development follows earlier allegations of financial mismanagement and accountability concerns within the organisation.

In March, some PCRC members reportedly accused Olaniyan of failing to account for more than ₦20 million allegedly generated from registration fees for the organisation’s 2026 national leadership workshop.

Sources cited in the report claimed that more than 2,000 PCRC members registered for the workshop at ₦12,000 each in January and February 2026.

The report also alleged that the organisation had not conducted a comprehensive audit of its national accounts for more than three years.

Another PCRC controversy emerged in 2023 when an eight-member committee was reportedly constituted to investigate allegations involving ₦60.3 million allegedly embezzled by the chairman.

A document cited in the report indicated that the committee confirmed that ₦60.3 million had been realised by the PCRC and reviewed expenditure records, with an alleged balance of approximately ₦1.4 million.

The committee reportedly recommended measures including greater financial discipline, limiting the chairman’s powers and ensuring compliance with the organisation’s constitution.

PCRC Election Controversy

The latest allegations also come amid disputes over internal elections within the PCRC.

In July, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 13, AIG Godwin Iguh Eze, reportedly postponed a PCRC Zone 13 election over alleged procedural issues.

The police said nomination forms had not been made available to the AIG or the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, while contestants had also not been screened by the AIG or members of the Zonal Management Team.

Sources further alleged that Olaniyan had sought to influence the electoral process, although he reportedly did not respond to attempts to obtain his reaction.

Meanwhile, sources within the PCRC reportedly claimed that Olaniyan is seeking another tenure as National Chairman ahead of the November 29 election.

 

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