Crime
Prominent Businessman, Politician’s Bail Revoked Amid Grandstanding Video Controversy
In a significant development, Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, has nullified the bail previously granted to Ericbona Ushie, a well-known businessman and politician facing allegations of a N35 million fraud.
The court has slated the next hearing for June 20, 2024, providing an opportunity for the defense to contest video evidence presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The footage suggests that Ushie, originally from Cross River State, was not in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service as expected.
The EFCC had formally charged Ushie on February 12, 2024, with a total of 13 offenses, including stealing, obtaining under false pretenses, use of false documents, forgery, and possession of fraudulent documents, amounting to N35,397,000.
One of the counts reads: “Ericbona Eliom Ushie, sometime in 2023, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly converted the total sum of N35,397,000.00, property of Calibration and Non-destructive Services Limited for your own use.”
Another count reads: “Ericbona Eliom Ushie, sometime in 2023 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud the aggregate sum of N35,397,000.00 property of Calibration and Non-destructive Services Limited under the pretense that the said sum was for the purpose of securing an award of contract from Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.”
Pleading “not guilty” to the charges, Ericbona Ushie initiated his defense.
Subsequently, Bilikisu Buhari, representing the EFCC, informed the court about the prosecution’s plan to present 13 witnesses in support of their case.
In response, the defense counsel, C.C. Orji, apprised the court of the defendant’s bail application.
C.C. Orji stated, “We have also served the same on the prosecution.”
In response, Bilikisu Buhari conveyed that the prosecution opposed the bail and had submitted a counter-affidavit.
Orji urged the court to grant bail to the defendant, highlighting that Ushie had been in EFCC custody since December 2, 2023.
Emphasizing the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, Orji made a case for the defendant’s right to bail.
He said “He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
Orji continued to assert that Ushie posed no flight risk and appealed to the court for self-recognition.
However, the prosecution countered, citing a court order as the basis for his detention in EFCC custody and pointing out additional pending cases with various courts.
Justice Abike-Fadipe, rejecting release to the defense counsel, ordered Ushie’s remand in prison custody.
The court scheduled the next hearing and ruling on the bail application for February 22, 2024.
In the verdict on the bail application, Justice Abike-Fadipe approved bail for Ericbona Ushie, setting the sum at N35 million.
The conditions included two sureties of equal value, required to reside and possess property within Lagos, along with proof of tax payment for the last three years.
While granting bail, the court also directed Ushie to be remanded in prison custody until the fulfillment of the specified bail conditions.
On February 26, 2024, Bilikisu Buhari alerted the court to a viral video circulating on social media.
The video depicted the defendant, Ericbona Ushie, comfortably posing in his Lekki residence in Lagos State, claiming he was never arrested, detained, or sent to prison by any court.
In the video, presented in open court, Ushie, who was supposed to be in prison custody, sat at his dining table with a plate of jollof rice, a bottle of water, and a pack of juice, boldly asserting, “I wasn’t arrested.”
Boasting further, Ushie retorted: “It baffles me, the energy [some people] use to try to destroy…It is disheartening… I am sitting in the comfort of my house… Today is the 18th February [2024] Sunday, the day before yesterday was 16th… I don’t know, one element of no commercial value posted something on Facebook; anybody can sponsor any post… and then, they go ahead to say that me, Ericbona Eliom Ushie, Honourable, [that] I am in prison… e be like say Nigeria Prisons dem don dey get prison wey dey [fine] like this [my beautiful house] o.”
Justice Abike-Fadipe, taken aback by the video, revoked the previously granted bail to the defendant.
The court issued a new order, mandating Ushie to stay in prison custody until June 20, 2024, the scheduled date for the defense to counter the contents of the aforementioned video.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday appeared before the Federal High Court in Kaduna for the continuation of proceedings in his ongoing corruption trial.
El-Rufai arrived at the court around 9:30 a.m. under the escort of officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alongside operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force.
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The former governor is facing allegations of abuse of office, fraud, and financial misconduct allegedly committed during his tenure as Kaduna State governor between 2015 and 2023.
According to the prosecution, funds were allegedly released for projects that were either not executed or were irregularly managed.
The ICPC maintains that its investigation uncovered financial infractions linked to the administration of public funds during El-Rufai’s time in office.
However, El-Rufai has denied all allegations against him, insisting that he is innocent and will clear his name through the judicial process.
At Monday’s hearing, the court was expected to continue considering motions and arguments from both the prosecution and defense teams as the case moves forward.
The trial has attracted significant public attention due to El-Rufai’s prominence in Nigeria’s political landscape and the nature of the allegations against him.
Recall that on April 14, 2026, Justice Rilwan Aikawa granted the former governor bail in the sum of ₦200 million.
The bail conditions required him to provide two sureties, including a serving or retired civil servant on Grade Level 15 and a recognized traditional ruler.
Although El-Rufai’s legal team later sought a variation of the bail conditions, previous requests for bail had been denied by another court over concerns that his influence could interfere with ongoing investigations into the case.
A 45-year-old woman, Mrs. Oluchi Ugbowan, has been arrested by the Edo State Police Command for allegedly orchestrating her own kidnapping in a desperate attempt to extort N50 million from her family.
Police said the suspect, alongside three accomplices, staged an elaborate kidnapping drama, complete with videos showing her bound and allegedly held captive, in a bid to convince relatives that she had fallen into the hands of kidnappers.
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The Edo State Police Command disclosed on Tuesday that the scheme was uncovered following a complaint lodged by Mrs. Ugbowan’s husband, Mr. Tony Ugbowan, who reported that his wife had been kidnapped while on her way to her shop at Ramat Park along Agbor Road in Benin City.
According to police spokesperson ASP Eno Ikedem, the husband told investigators that he had received a call from an unknown individual using a concealed phone number, demanding a ransom of N50 million for his wife’s release.
The report prompted operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to launch an intensive investigation, combining intelligence gathering and technical tracking to uncover the truth behind the alleged abduction.
The breakthrough came with the arrest of one Israel Ability, 28, at Ramat Park, Agbor Road, Benin City. During the operation, detectives recovered a mobile phone belonging to the supposed victim.
Police said Ability later confessed during interrogation that the kidnapping was staged and that he had been recruited by Mrs. Ugbowan to negotiate ransom payments with her family while pretending she had been abducted.
Further investigations led officers to a hotel in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, where Mrs. Ugbowan was arrested on June 5, 2026.
During questioning, she allegedly admitted to masterminding the fake kidnapping and subsequently led investigators to the residence of another suspect, Ochukwudem Uwadia, 38, in Delta State.
According to the police, Uwadia’s residence served as the location where the fake kidnapping videos were produced.
The clips reportedly showed Mrs. Ugbowan with her hands and feet tied while emotional appeals for ransom were directed at her family.
Investigators also discovered that Uwadia’s 18-year-old son, Chibuzor Ochukwudem, allegedly participated in the scheme and was seen pointing a firearm at Mrs. Ugbowan’s head in the videos to make the kidnapping appear genuine.
Police said all four suspects connected to the alleged conspiracy have now been arrested.
A search conducted at the premises used for the production of the videos led to the recovery of an automatic pump-action gun allegedly used during the recording of the ransom footage.
The Edo State Police Command said the suspects will face prosecution upon the conclusion of investigations, warning members of the public against engaging in criminal schemes disguised as kidnapping incidents.
The European Union has imposed a €200 million fine on Chinese-owned online retail platform Temu over the sale of illegal and unsafe products across its marketplace.
EU regulators announced the penalty on Thursday, accusing the e-commerce giant of failing to properly prevent dangerous items from reaching consumers within the bloc.
According to the European Commission, European shoppers were highly likely to encounter illegal products on Temu, including unsafe baby toys, defective chargers, and jewellery that failed safety standards.
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The EU said Temu failed to adequately assess the risks linked to illegal products being sold on its platform, adding that the company underestimated the level of harm such items could pose to consumers.
EU tech commissioner Henna Virkkunen said Temu’s rapid expansion in Europe made the issue more concerning, noting that millions of users could potentially be exposed to unsafe products.
Temu, however, disagreed with the decision and described the fine as “disproportionate.” The company stated that it had cooperated with regulators and already introduced additional measures to improve platform governance and user safety.
The sanction was issued under the European Union’s Digital Services Act, a major law aimed at holding large digital platforms accountable for illegal content and consumer risks online.
The platform, which entered the European market in 2023, has grown rapidly and now boasts about 130 million users within the EU.
Regulators also disclosed that investigations into other suspected breaches by Temu are still ongoing, including concerns over addictive app features and its recommendation systems.
Temu has been given until August 28 to submit a compliance plan outlining how it intends to address the violations or risk facing further penalties.
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