Crime
EFCC Appeals Acquittal Of Ex-Lagos Speaker In N338.8m Money Laundering Case
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has lodged an appeal against the acquittal of Adeyemi Ikuforiji, former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, over charges of money laundering.
Alongside his former personal assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi, Ikuforiji had been facing a 54-count charge brought by the EFCC in March 2012, involving the alleged laundering of N338.8 million.
After a drawn-out legal process lasting more than a decade, both men were acquitted by the Federal High Court in Lagos on June 24, 2014.
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In his ruling, Justice Mohammed Liman stated that the EFCC failed to provide sufficient evidence to convict the defendants.
However, dissatisfied with the outcome, the EFCC filed an appeal on September 30, 2014, represented by counsel Godwin Obla, challenging the judgement.
The EFCC argued that the trial court had erred in dismissing the charges as invalid, asserting that the charges were brought under the repealed Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act of 2004, which had since been replaced by the 2011 Act.
The commission further contended that both the 2004 and 2011 Acts applied to individuals, corporate bodies, and government entities, and claimed the lower court wrongly interpreted the law.
In November 2016, the Court of Appeal in Lagos sided with the EFCC, ordering a retrial of the case.
Ikuforiji and Atoyebi then took the matter to the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the appellate court’s decision.
However, the Supreme Court upheld the ruling, directing the case back to the Federal High Court for a fresh trial.
The case was subsequently reassigned to Justice Liman, who, after a retrial, again acquitted Ikuforiji and Atoyebi on June 24.
The EFCC had accused the two men of receiving cash payments in excess of the amount legally allowed by the Money Laundering Act, without involving any financial institution, and claimed that Ikuforiji had used his position to misappropriate Assembly funds.
The alleged offences, said to have been committed between April 2010 and July 2011, were said to violate several sections of both the 2004 and 2011 Money Laundering Acts.
Now, with the EFCC’s latest appeal, the legal battle over the charges of money laundering against Ikuforiji and Atoyebi appears set to continue.
Crime
Ilesa Shooting: Police Release Osun Commissioner on Bail
The Osun State Police Command has released the state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Mayowa Anjorin, on bail following his arrest over an alleged shooting incident during a political procession in Ilesa.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the commissioner’s release to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.
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Ojelabi said Anjorin was released at about 1:00 p.m. after being granted bail.
“The commissioner has been released. He was released around 1.00 p.m on bail,” the police spokesperson said.
He, however, disclosed that an Amotekun operative arrested alongside the commissioner remains in police custody.
“The Amotekun operative arrested alongside the commissioner and the gun found with him (the Amotekun operative) are still with us,” Ojelabi added.
He stressed that investigations into the incident were still ongoing.
The commissioner’s arrest followed an alleged shooting during a political procession in Ilesa on Saturday.
According to the police, suspected armed men allegedly arrived in a government vehicle, alighted and fired into the vicinity of the ongoing political procession.
The suspects were reportedly dressed as personnel of the Osun State Security Network Agency, popularly known as the Amotekun Corps.
The incident reportedly left three people with gunshot injuries. The victims were taken to hospital for medical treatment.
Meanwhile, the police said investigations would continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the roles of those arrested.
Crime
Jigawa Bloodshed: Police Arrest Nine After Deadly Market Violence
The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested nine suspects in connection with separate incidents of deadly violence, including a fatal market clash, attacks on security personnel, and a homicide case in different parts of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Shi’isu Adam, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued in Dutse, describing them as part of the police’s ongoing efforts to maintain law and order across Jigawa State.
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According to Adam, two suspects were arrested over the violent unrest that broke out at Gujungu Market in Taura Local Government Area on July 26.
“The disturbance reportedly began following a misunderstanding between a soldier and one Biniya Alhaji Ibrahim, 25, of Miga Local Government Area, at the market,” he said.
The police spokesperson explained that the disagreement escalated into violence after the soldier allegedly stabbed Ibrahim.
“During the altercation, the soldier allegedly stabbed Biniya with a knife, resulting in injuries from which the victim was later confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” Adam stated.
The incident reportedly triggered chaos in the market as hoodlums allegedly attacked a police station, fired bows and arrows at security personnel, and set two thatched shops ablaze.
Adam said intelligence-led operations led to the arrest of two suspects identified as Muhammed Muhammed, 22, of Gagarawa Local Government Area, and Faridu Mohammed, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects.
In a related development, six more suspects were arrested for allegedly attacking two vigilante members with sticks and cutlasses during the same disturbance.
“As a result of the assault, one vigilante member sustained fatal injuries and was certified dead by a medical doctor, while the second victim is currently responding to treatment at a medical facility,” the police spokesperson said.
The six suspects were identified as Isiyaku Abdulkarim, 55; Yahaya Habu, 31; Ibrahim Abubakar, 30; Audu Mamman Janare, 30; Ya’u Duga, 65; and Mamman Musa, 20, from Taura, Gagarawa, Kaugama and Jahun Local Government Areas.
Police also recovered six cows believed to have been abandoned during the unrest.
In another incident, the command arrested 20-year-old Saminu Ibrahim of Gidan Gona Village, Ringim Local Government Area, over the alleged fatal stabbing of another 20-year-old during a dispute in Dabigel Village.
According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that an argument between the two youths degenerated into violence, during which the suspect allegedly stabbed the victim in the chest with a sharp metal object locally known as “Danbuda.”
The victim later died while receiving treatment at the hospital.
“Acting swiftly, police operatives arrested one Saminu Ibrahim, 20, of Gidan Gona Village, Ringim Local Government Area, in connection with the incident,” Adam said.
He added that the suspect would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Dutse for further investigation before being arraigned in court.
Meanwhile, the police said a stakeholders’ engagement involving Miyetti Allah, traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders, security agencies, youth representatives and other relevant stakeholders is ongoing to address the root causes of the Gujungu Market violence and prevent a recurrence.
Adam said the Commissioner of Police commended officers and other security personnel for their swift response to the disturbances and reassured residents of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
The command also urged members of the public to remain calm, law-abiding and continue providing timely and credible information to support ongoing investigations.
Crime
Jealous Rage: Court Jails Ekiti Woman 7 Years for Mutilating Boyfriend’s Manhood
A High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has sentenced a 35-year-old woman, Joy Ikoja, to seven years’ imprisonment for mutilating her boyfriend’s manhood during a violent confrontation after allegedly catching him in bed with another woman.
Justice Oyinkansola Oluboyede convicted Ikoja of causing grievous harm but acquitted her of attempted murder, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish that she intended to kill the victim.
The case, filed under Charge No. HAD/14C/2025, arose from an incident that occurred on April 12, 2025, in the Irona area of Ado-Ekiti.
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According to court records, Ikoja and her boyfriend, Ibrahim Usman, had lived together for about three years.
Their relationship reportedly turned sour after they accommodated Ikoja’s female friend, Mayowa Ayomide, who was facing accommodation challenges.
Investigations revealed that Usman allegedly began a secret sexual relationship with Ayomide while they were all living in the same room.
On the evening of April 12, 2025, Ikoja reportedly returned home and found the door locked from the inside. After gaining entry, she allegedly caught Usman and Ayomide together in bed.
The court heard that Usman tried to shield Ayomide by pushing her away and blocking Ikoja’s path. During the ensuing struggle, Ikoja allegedly grabbed Usman’s manhood with force, inflicting severe injuries that left him requiring urgent medical attention.
The victim was initially treated at the Police Cottage Hospital in Okesa, Ado-Ekiti, before being referred to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital after the injury became infected and required specialist urological care.
During the trial, prosecuting counsel F.O. Awoniyi called four witnesses, including police investigators and the attending medical doctor.
Five exhibits were also tendered before the court, including medical reports, photographs, a certificate of compliance and the defendant’s confessional statement.
The defendant, represented by Legal Aid Council counsel Adeyinka Opaleke, pleaded not guilty and denied making the confessional statement, insisting that although there was a fight, she did not inflict the injuries sustained by Usman.
In her judgment, Justice Oluboyede held that the prosecution proved the offence of grievous harm beyond reasonable doubt, describing the defendant’s denial as an afterthought because it was contradicted by medical evidence, police testimony and her extra-judicial confession.
Before sentencing, the judge advised that a plea bargain would have resulted in reduced legal costs, a shorter prison term and a faster resolution of the case.
She also condemned domestic violence driven by uncontrolled emotions, stressing that no act of violence can be justified.
“This Court understands that the Defendant’s action was mostly borne out of uncontrolled emotions and passion against her intimate partner. However, there is no justification for violence and this should serve as a deterrence to any other aggressive partners or would-be aggressive partners.”
Justice Oluboyede subsequently sentenced Ikoja to the maximum punishment prescribed under Section 255 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021, imposing a seven-year prison term excluding the period already spent in detention.





