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N10bn Money Laundering: Court Upholds EFCC’s Amended Charges
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on February 23, 2024 overruled a motion on notice filed by Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman urging the court to strike out the 17-count amended charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on the ground against them claiming that the charge lacked merit and invalid.
The court held that the 17-count amended charges filed on February 5, 2024 are valid as the prosecution is entitled to amend its charges provided it is done before judgement is given.
The motion on notice by the defence which was filed on February 22, 2024 by counsel to the second defendant, Nureini Jimoh objected to the admittance of the amended charges stating that it amounted to an abuse of court processes. Also, the motion questioned the Federal High Court in Abuja on the ground that it lacked jurisdiction to try the matter and seeking that the matter be transferred to Kogi State.
Jimoh also submitted that the 17-count amended charge was fatally incompetent, citing Section 216 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
“My lord, the EFCC lacks the grounds to investigate the revenue of Kogi State Government, because the EFCC is not constitutionally recognized to have the powers to usurp the decision and powers of Kogi State House of Assembly.
“Let me say that based on the resolution and decision by the Kogi State Assembly, which says that no fraud was committed in the Kogi State Account, that should lay to rest EFCC`s allegation that a fraud was committed” Jimoh asserted.
Responding, Prosecution Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, in a counter- affidavit objected to the allegations, urging the court to discountenance the application of the defense. He noted that the alleged offence committed by the defendants were in Abuja and “within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court and all three witnesses in the case are residents of Abuja”. He also pointed at the insecurity challenges involved in prosecuting the matter in Kogi State.
“We are opposing the application with a counter-affidavit and we urge my Lord to dismiss this application. In the circumstances that offences were committed in Abuja, the funds alleged to have been laundered belong to the Kogi State government, but the alleged money laundering act was committed in Abuja and that the funds in question had been allegedly used to acquire properties and equally used to engage in foreign exchange transactions in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja. My Lord, I will rely on Section 20 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011″, he said.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Omotosho discountenanced the application of the defence, stating that the prosecution has not concluded its case, “so it is immature to say that the EFCC cannot amend charges at any time before judgment”
He also stated that the EFCC under its Establishment Act has the power to investigate and prosecute anybody or entity when cases of corruption and money laundering are established including the powers provided by the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.
“Prosecuting a money laundering charge is “within the purview of the EFCC. I hold that this criminal trial is properly constituted before this court. I also hold without hesitation that the second amended charge filed on February 5, 2024 is hereby deemed valid and competent. I hereby order that the defendants are called upon to take their pleas in the amended charge, the objection of the defendant is hereby overruled”, he ruled.
He also added that the case will be given accelerated hearing, equally noting that insecurity could be a reason to try a criminal offence outside jurisdiction
Justice Omotosho adjourned to March 14, 15, and 21 for the continuation of hearing.
The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to launch a forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), in a major move aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, at the ongoing Nigerian Investor Forum, held on the sidelines of the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC.
READ ALSO: Loans Necessary For Budget Despite High Revenue Collections – Wale Edun
Edun explained that the upcoming audit, along with recent changes in NNPCL management, is part of a broader effort to reform the state-owned oil company and rebuild trust in Nigeria’s economic institutions.
Addressing top global investors, including representatives from financial giant J.P. Morgan, Edun outlined a series of bold economic reforms introduced by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
He said the measures are already yielding positive results and have laid a strong foundation for future growth.
“Our goal is not just to maintain this momentum, but to accelerate it,” Edun said. “We are targeting seven per cent annual growth, and we believe the policies we have implemented have laid the groundwork to achieve this.”
According to Edun, Nigeria’s economy grew by 3.84% in the fourth quarter of 2024, with an overall annual growth rate of 3.4%.
He described the government’s economic strategy as “unprecedented,” adding that key indicators such as the budget deficit, trade balance, and exchange rate have all shown signs of improvement.
“We said we would do it, and now we have done it. This time, we’re staying the course,” he emphasized.
The minister also highlighted the government’s focus on agriculture as a critical driver of economic growth, saying efforts are underway to close the food supply gap by empowering local producers.
“We aim to close the food supply gap, not by importing more, but by enabling domestic producers to scale and innovate,” he said.
In the area of infrastructure, Edun announced that 90,000km of fibre optic cable has been rolled out to boost internet connectivity, especially for young Nigerians and the tech ecosystem.
Additionally, 4,000km of roads have been earmarked for private sector participation, with the first 1,000km already approved for construction.
In the early hours of Thursday, Kyiv was rocked by a devastating Russian missile and drone attack, described by Ukrainian officials as one of the most brutal strikes on the capital since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.
The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia unleashed 70 missiles and 145 drones overnight, targeting several cities across the country.
The barrage on Kyiv left at least nine people dead and over 60 wounded, including six children.
READ ALSO: Suspected Attack: Explosion Strikes Russian Consulate In France
Air raid sirens blared across the capital around 1:00 a.m., warning residents to seek shelter.
Moments later, loud explosions shattered the night, lighting up the sky and shaking buildings. “Phone calls can be heard from under the rubble — the search will continue until we are confident that we have found everyone,” said Interior Minister Igor Klymenko.
He confirmed that two children remained unaccounted for amid the chaos.
Rescue workers scrambled to pull survivors from under collapsed buildings. Fires broke out across multiple apartment blocks, and damage was reported in at least 13 locations.
In one tragic scene in the Sviatoshinsky district, a woman sat on a foldout chair beside a covered body, gently stroking the arm of a loved one killed in the strike.
Nearby, a bloodied woman clutched her dog as a first responder spoke calmly to her, trying to provide comfort amid the destruction.
Prime Minister Denys Shmygal condemned the assault in stark terms. “Cruise and ballistic missiles, drones, air bombs — Russia is cruelly and cynically firing missiles at Ukrainian cities, killing people while the world is making efforts to establish peace,” he wrote on social media.
The attack came just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his call for a ceasefire. “Stopping the killings is the number one task,” Zelensky stated online following a meeting between his aides and Western officials in London.
However, any momentum toward peace appeared to falter. Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to respond to Zelensky’s offer to halt airstrikes on civilian areas and previously dismissed a joint U.S.-Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional ceasefire.
“Putin demonstrates through his actions, not words, that he does not respect any peace efforts and only wants to continue the war,” said Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga. Echoing that sentiment, presidential aide Andriy Yermak declared, “Putin shows only a desire to kill.”
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking hours before the attack, claimed a peace deal with Russia was close.
He blamed Zelensky for stalling negotiations by refusing to accept Moscow’s annexation of Crimea, stating that Ukraine’s position “will do nothing but prolong the ‘killing field’.”
Meanwhile, Russian forces expanded their offensive to other regions.
In Kharkiv, at least seven missiles struck a densely populated residential district, according to city mayor Igor Terekhov. Russia’s defense ministry also reported downing 87 Ukrainian drones, including 45 over Crimea.
Earlier this month, Russia’s campaign of aerial terror intensified. A missile strike on the city of Sumy killed at least 35 people, while another attack on Zelensky’s hometown, Kryvyi Rih, claimed 19 lives — nine of them children.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is intensifying its campaign against substance abuse by proposing mandatory drug integrity tests for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and individuals preparing for marriage.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), explained the rationale behind the proposal during a meeting with the NYSC leadership in Abuja on April 23, 2025.
Speaking to NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, Marwa clarified that the tests are not intended to be punitive but are part of a broader strategy to curb drug abuse and intervene early in cases of dependence.
READ ALSO: NYSC Pulls Out Corps Members From Benue Community
“It is always better to detect drug use early before it gets to addiction, which eventually could get to psychiatric problems, and it becomes a danger to the user and society,” Marwa stated.
While welcoming the new NYSC chief, Marwa commended the scheme as “a national treasure and a veritable instrument of national unity.”
He highlighted the alarming rate of drug use in the country and called for collective efforts in tackling the challenge.
“The drug scourge has continued to devastate our kids, families, and communities everywhere. There’s nowhere you go in the country that you don’t have a drug abuse problem,” he said. “One in seven Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 uses drugs.”
Marwa emphasized that while NDLEA is working hard to restrict access and availability of drugs, reducing demand is equally important.
He urged NYSC to play a more active role in this regard.
“You have mentioned our efforts to cut off access and availability of these drugs but beyond that, we have to work with all stakeholders, including NYSC to ensure drastic reduction in the demand for drugs by our youths, and one of our strategies to address this is through our drug integrity test, which we’re advocating that NYSC should embrace for corps members.”
He also praised the introduction of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) clubs in NYSC camps, describing them as a positive development, while calling for further collaboration in areas such as prevention, counseling, and rehabilitation.
“This is a major drug demand reduction effort. In the same way we said, if you are getting married, both the bride and the groom should bring a drug-free certificate,” he added.
According to Marwa, early detection remains key to managing substance abuse and preventing it from evolving into more severe health or social issues.
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