Crime
Obiano Trial: I Had No Knowledge of ₦860m In My Company’s Account – Witness
A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that he was unaware of N860 million deposited into his company’s bank account by the Anambra State Government.
The witness, Udochukwu Okparache, a general contractor and owner of Youdooh Ventures Limited, made this revelation while testifying before Justice Inyang Ekwo.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), Okparache stated that he only became aware of the transactions when he was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in April 2023.
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“Sometimes in April 2023, I was called by the EFCC to come and give clarification in respect of Youdooh Ventures bank account, which I opened in Awka. When I got there, they showed me the transactions I had done with the Anambra State government but couldn’t understand the transaction that was there,” Okparache said.
Upon inquiry, his account officer allegedly told him that the inflows were meant to boost his account status to enable him to meet requirements for traveling abroad.
“Immediately, I called my account officer, who told me that he was boosting my account. The inflows were made through the Manager’s cheques, and the outflows were done by individuals.
“The transactions that were done in that account were through Manager’s cheques, which was about N60 million, but N860 million was the total amount that passed through my account, which Cherish Ventures Limited, Chief Mrs. Eberechi Willie Obiano, Easy Demands Limited, and so many other companies benefited from. I did not bid for any contract with the Anambra State government,” he stated.
An analysis of his account statements, marked as exhibit PW3 A1-A5, confirmed that the funds were transferred in tranches, including payments of N18 million and N9 million on April 5, 2018.
Another payment was made on April 11, 2018, while N7 million was transferred to the wife of the former governor.
During cross-examination by defence counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), Okparache admitted that he did not report the transactions to the bank, explaining that he wanted his account to be boosted.
However, he denied knowing Obiano personally or being aware of who authorized the payments.
After hearing his testimony, Justice Ekwo adjourned the case to May 26, 27, and 28, 2025, for continuation of trial.
Obiano is currently facing a nine-count charge related to money laundering, diversion of public funds, and corruption, amounting to N4 billion.
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.
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“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.
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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.
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