EFCC

Yahaya Bello: Court Adjourns to Rule on Admissibility of Deed of Assignment, Irrevocable Power of Attorney

Published

8 months ago

March 3, 2026

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, March 9, 2026, adjourned to rule on the admissibility of a Deed of Assignment and an Irrevocable Power of Attorney tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello.

The judge fixed the date after listening to extensive arguments from counsel over the admissibility of the two documents relating to the sale of Plot 1160, Cadastral Zone, Gwarimpa 2, Abuja, allegedly sold for ₦100 million.

Bello is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of ₦80,246,470,088.88.

The controversy arose when prosecution counsel, Chukwudi Enebeli, SAN, sought to tender the Deed of Assignment and the Irrevocable Power of Attorney through PW10, Mahmoud Abdulaziz, Chief Accountant of Dantata & Sawoe Construction Limited.

Abdulaziz testified that the company sold the property, measuring 8,240.72 square metres, to Azba Real Estate Limited for ₦100 million. According to him, the payment was made in tranches: ₦70 million on February 17, 2021; ₦10 million on February 19; and ₦20 million on February 22, 2021, via electronic transfers into the company’s Keystone Bank account.

He stated that Maigari Murtala made the transfers, while the Deed of Assignment was executed between Dantata & Sawoe and Azba Real Estate Limited and signed by Mubarak Dantata, Nasiru Dantata and Ali Bello. He further told the court that an Irrevocable Power of Attorney was executed between Mubarak Dantata and Ali Bello, and that the documents were submitted to the EFCC during the investigation.

However, defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, objected to their admissibility on three grounds.

“My lord, the first document is an irrevocable power of attorney and the second is a deed of assignment in respect of the same land. These are registrable instruments relating to title and ought to have been registered,” he said.

He submitted that only Certified True Copies (CTCs) from the appropriate land registry would be admissible, contending that the EFCC was not the custodian of land documents and that the purported certification by an EFCC official was contrary to Section 114 of the Evidence Act.

“On these three grounds, my lord, these documents are inadmissible,” Daudu maintained.

Responding, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, described the objection as a misconception of the law.

“The evidence of the witness is unambiguous. He has led oral evidence of the transaction and receipt of money. These documents are being tendered to anchor that oral evidence,” he said.

He stressed that the case was a criminal prosecution for money laundering and not a civil dispute over land title.

“This is about financial crimes and the flow of funds. We are not tendering these documents to prove title or ownership. This court does not have jurisdiction to determine title to land,” he argued.

Pinheiro further submitted that a document inadmissible for one purpose may be admissible for another, and that once a private document is submitted to a public officer during an investigation, it becomes a public document in custody and may be certified.

Citing Audu v. FRN (2025) 5 NWLR (Pt. 1984) 61, he contended that the Supreme Court had settled the issue.

In reply, Daudu insisted that no specific purpose had been clearly stated for tendering the documents other than to juxtapose the names of the payer and the signatory.

“Even if it is to be admitted as a receipt, there must be a consideration clause; otherwise, it is inadmissible,” he argued.

Pinheiro countered that the Deed of Assignment contained a consideration clause and urged the court to admit both documents.

After hearing both sides, Justice Nwite adjourned until March 9, 2026, for a ruling on their admissibility and continuation of the trial.

Earlier in the proceedings, the defence informed the court of a pending application seeking leave to vacate an earlier order granting the defendant permission to travel for lesser Hajj.

Daudu told the court that both parties had filed applications and were engaged in discussions, requesting time to report on the outcome.

“We have advanced in discussions. If my lord can grant us until March 9 just to report on whether this application would be necessary,” he said.

Pinheiro confirmed that discussions had taken place and that the prosecution would respond to issues relating to a Red Notice.

“My lord, I confirm we had discussions. Monday is convenient. We will respond to the application on the Red Notice,” he said, adding that “all the airports in the Middle East are closed.”

Under cross-examination of PW8, an FCMB official, the witness confirmed that Exhibit 37 was the statement of account of Kunfayakun Global Limited from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2024.

He told the court he was neither the account officer nor the relationship manager and had no direct relationship with the account signatories.

He confirmed a ₦100 million inflow on December 15 from Keyless Nature Limited but said he could not determine the purpose of the transfer.

On a ₦400 million RTGS inflow on December 17, 2021, he explained that RTGS means Real Time Gross Settlement, but maintained he did not know the business relationship between the parties.

Similarly, he confirmed a ₦600 million inflow from Ejadams on February 18, 2022, but said he did not know the purpose of the transaction. He was subsequently discharged.

PW9, Oluwafemi Victoria, a compliance officer with Polaris Bank, testified under subpoena, which was admitted as Exhibit 38, while statements of account and a certificate of identification were admitted as Exhibits 39 and 40.

She confirmed multiple ₦10 million inflows into JIT Limited’s account on November 23 and 24, 2021, from Musa Nura, Yusuf Mubarak and Maishanu Global Industry, totalling ₦150 million.

On SSP Foods Limited’s account, she identified 10 credit entries on November 24, 2021, including ₦70 million from Inganchi Synergy and ₦70 million from Murtala Maigari, among others, amounting to ₦250 million.

Under cross-examination, she stated that she was neither the account officer nor the relationship manager and did not know the business relationships behind the transactions.

The matter continues on March 9, 2026.

EFCC

Alleged ₦238.35m Fraud: EFCC Arraigns Man in Lagos

Published

1 day ago

November 4, 2026

Staff Editor

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, November 2, 2026, arraigned Adeseun Adeniyi Olukunle before Justice A. O. Okunuga of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, over an alleged ₦238.35 million fraud.

Olukunle was arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretences, stealing and retention of stolen property.

The alleged offences are contrary to Sections 280 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, and Section 328 of the same law.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Adeseun Adeniyi Olukunle, Chanaiyah International Limited and Omotosho Abraham Aremu (at large), sometime in 2025 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction, converted the sum of ₦11,000,000.00 (Eleven Million Naira) to the use of Faniran Olusoji John, property of Temitope Bolarinde Samuel, aka Boteam Nigeria Limited.”

Another count reads: “That you, Adeseun Adeniyi Olukunle, Chanaiyah International Limited and Omotosho Abraham Aremu (at large), sometime in 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction, converted the sum of ₦19,000,000.00 (Nineteen Million Naira) to the use of Omotayo Faniran, property of Temitope Bolarinde Samuel, aka Boteam Nigeria Limited.”

He pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

Following his plea, prosecuting counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in a correctional centre pending trial.

She informed the court that the second defendant, Chanaiyah International Limited, was controlled by Omotosho Abraham Aremu, who is currently at large. She consequently urged the court to enter a plea of not guilty on behalf of the company, a request that was granted.

However, defence counsel, Yusuf T. Nurudeen, informed the court that he had filed a bail application on behalf of his client and urged the court to grant the defendant bail on liberal terms.

In his ruling, Justice Okunuga granted Olukunle bail in the sum of ₦300 million, with two sureties in like sum.

The judge directed that one of the sureties must own landed property within the court’s jurisdiction, subject to verification by the court registrar. The sureties were also required to provide evidence of tax payment.

The case was adjourned until January 18, 19 and 20, 2027, for the commencement of trial.

EFCC

Hard Times Await Illegal Miners as Olukoyede Bags MINILS Fellowship Award

Published

2 days ago

November 3, 2026

Staff Editor

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, has vowed to intensify the crackdown on illegal mining by targeting financiers, mineral buyers, compromised public officials and other collaborators who profit from the illicit exploitation of Nigeria’s mineral resources.

Olukoyede made this known in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, while delivering a keynote address at a joint conference on illegal mining, corruption and climate implications, organised by the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin, in partnership with the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA). The EFCC chairman was also conferred with a Fellowship Award by the institute.

Speaking on the theme, “Uprooting the Roots of Resource Theft: A Zero-Tolerance Approach to Mining Corruption and Increasing Insecurity in Nigeria,” the anti-corruption czar observed that despite Nigeria’s abundant mineral resources, including gold, lithium, tin, lead and zinc, the country had yet to maximise their economic benefits due to corruption, illegal exploitation and insecurity.

He stressed that mineral wealth could only become a national blessing if properly managed and protected from criminal exploitation.

He explained that illegal mining was not merely the work of individuals operating mining pits but involved sophisticated networks of local and international financiers, buyers, compromised officials, transporters and beneficiaries of illicit proceeds.

He therefore advocated an enforcement strategy that goes beyond arresting miners to identifying and dismantling the financial networks behind the criminal enterprise.

“A serious enforcement strategy must move from the pit to the purse,” he declared, adding that the EFCC would continue to follow the money, investigate financiers and facilitators, trace illicit proceeds and prosecute offenders based on evidence.

Giving an account of the Commission’s efforts, Olukoyede disclosed that between October 2023 and July 2026, the EFCC recorded 52 illegal mining cases within its specialised enforcement portfolio, resulting in investigations, prosecutions and convictions.

He also revealed that the Commission had secured the forfeiture of 102 tonnes of solid minerals.

He emphasised that illegal mining was not just an economic crime but could fuel extortion, smuggling, violence and other forms of criminality, thereby worsening insecurity in affected communities.

The EFCC chairman further called for stronger collaboration among mining regulators, law enforcement agencies, financial intelligence institutions, customs authorities, revenue agencies and host communities.

He maintained that effective information-sharing, joint intelligence and coordinated operations were essential to identifying the financiers and ultimate beneficiaries of illegal mining.

He also urged organised labour, traditional institutions, civil society organisations and the media to support efforts to promote transparency, decent work and accountability in the extractive sector.

Earlier, the Director-General of MINILS and chief host, Comrade Issa Aremu, commended the EFCC under Olukoyede’s leadership for its efforts to curb illegal activities and promote accountability in the country.

He also underscored the importance of the conference in advancing labour education and addressing contemporary challenges confronting workers and the environment.

In his remarks, the Chairman of HEDA Resource Centre, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, described illegal mining, corruption and environmental degradation as interconnected challenges requiring collective action.

He stressed that organised labour must play a central role in Nigeria’s transition to clean energy to ensure that workers are not left behind.

He explained that the three-day engagement was designed to equip labour leaders with advocacy, skills development and collective bargaining tools while promoting a joint action plan for monitoring suspicious mining activities and a Green Accountability Campaign.

The highlight of the event was the conferment of a Fellowship Award on the EFCC chairman by MINILS in recognition of his contributions to the fight against corruption and related economic crimes.

EFCC

EFCC Uncovers Chinese-Operated Illegal Oil Refinery in Ogun

Published

2 days ago

November 3, 2026

Staff Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered an illegal oil refinery allegedly operated by Chinese nationals in the Ogere area of Ogun State.

The operation, conducted on Saturday, October 31, 2026, by operatives of the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, followed credible intelligence and surveillance by the Commission into the activities of illegal sludge oil refiners.

The refinery was deserted when EFCC operatives stormed the premises, following the Commission’s earlier clampdown on four illegal lithium processing plants in the area.

However, waste products from the refining process were discovered at the site.

During the raid, operatives also discovered underground tanks believed to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil.

Two of the tanks inspected contained substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the operators sourced sludge oil, also known as black sludge, from Warri, Delta State, and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and transported it to the illegal facility in Ogere for processing.

Further investigations indicated that the operators subjected the sludge oil to intense heat, allowing lighter petroleum components to pass through a series of chambers and filters in a process believed to produce Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) for sale in the Nigerian market.

Security personnel at the facility reportedly told EFCC operatives that the Chinese operators had neither disclosed their identities nor identified the company behind the facility.

Consequently, operatives of the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 have taken over the premises as investigations continue to establish the identities of the operators, determine ownership of the facility and ascertain the full extent of the suspected illegal activities and economic sabotage.