EFCC

Alleged ₦738.6m Fraud: Judge Threatens to Revoke Maina’s Bail

Published

7 months ago

February 6, 2026

The trial of Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, continued on Thursday, February 5, 2026, before Justice Abubakar Kutigi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Asokoro, with the judge threatening to revoke the defendant’s bail over what he described as repeated antics aimed at stalling the trial.

Justice Kutigi expressed displeasure following the presentation of a hospital referral by the defence counsel, Mr Achibong, and his subsequent request for an adjournment, despite the referral indicating no specific illness.

The judge lamented that the case had failed to make meaningful progress in the last four years due to what he described as deliberate attempts by the defendant to delay proceedings, despite the court granting him ample opportunity to respond to the fraud allegations.

Justice Kutigi noted that Maina’s conduct “has stalled proceedings completely,” recalling that the last time the defendant personally appeared in court was about four years ago. He warned that the court was considering revoking Maina’s bail to compel him to take the trial seriously.

While refusing the defence counsel’s adjournment request, the judge disclosed that he had secured a commitment from the defence team to proceed with the trial henceforth, with or without Maina’s physical presence in court.

Following the dismissal of the adjournment request, prosecution counsel, Francis Usani, proceeded to present the 14th prosecution witness (PW14), Gogi Mohammed, who continued his evidence-in-chief from where he stopped at the previous sitting.

Led in evidence by the prosecution, the witness, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), told the court that investigations in Kaduna revealed that the first defendant used staff of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) to siphon public funds through payments for fictitious contracts, allowances and biometric enrolment exercises for pensioners.

“In our effort to trace where the funds were kept, we discovered a relative of the defendant, one Maimuna Usman, resident in Kaduna, who was a custodian of his assets. We went to her residence at Gwando MSC Quarters, arrested her and executed a search warrant. During the search, we recovered title documents, deeds of assignment and certificates of occupancy for over 30 properties, mostly located in Abuja and Kaduna State. During interrogation, she disclosed that the documents were given to her by the first defendant,” he said.

The witness further testified that, following interviews with real estate agents involved in the transactions, the EFCC filed for the forfeiture of the properties.

According to him, several of the properties were purchased in cash.

“A property located in Jabi, Abuja, was purchased by Abdulrasheed Maina in cash for $2 million. Another property in Life Camp, Abuja, was bought for $1.7 million in cash, while a property on Katoru Road, Kaduna, was purchased for ₦100 million, also paid in cash,” he said.

Continuing his testimony, the witness said: “My Lord, in the course of my earlier testimony, I mentioned Hamilton Global Services Limited, owned by Osarenkhoe Afe. He was a member of the Pension Reform Task Team headed by Abdulrasheed Maina and was introduced to the team by the former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Stephen Oronsaye, at the instance of Maina.

“Afe’s company was awarded a biometric enrolment contract valued at ₦63 million. Before the expiration of the contract, the company applied for an extension and additional payment of ₦136 million, bringing the contract sum to ₦199 million.”

The witness said EFCC investigators requested the bank statements of Innovative Solutions Limited and discovered that a total of ₦224 million was paid to the company for the same contract.

He told the court that the owner of the company, Robert Eakazobo, admitted during interrogation that the contract sum was inflated at the instance of the first defendant.

“Further analysis showed that out of the ₦224 million paid to Innovative Solutions, ₦166 million was transferred to Fredrick Hamilton’s account. It was also discovered that ₦1.19 million was paid directly to him by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for biometric enrolment,” he said.

The witness added that Afe disclosed during investigation that the total amount he received from Innovative Solutions and direct payments from the OHCSF amounted to about ₦280 million, out of which he paid ₦250 million in tranches to the first defendant, mostly through post-dated cheques.

The witness identified the extra-judicial statements of the first and second defendants—six and three pages respectively—written in their own handwriting at the EFCC office. However, defence counsel to both defendants objected to their admissibility, alleging that the statements were obtained under duress.

To determine the circumstances under which the statements were made, Justice Kutigi adjourned the case to February 20 and 26, 2026, for trial-within-trial.

Maina was arraigned alongside Ann Igwe Olachi in 2019 on a nine-count charge bordering on the receipt of stolen funds amounting to ₦738,612,019.99 (Seven Hundred and Thirty-Eight Million, Six Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Nineteen Naira, Ninety-Nine Kobo).

Count one of the charge reads: “That Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina, on or about July 2, 2010, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly received the sum of ₦155,000,000 (One Hundred and Fifty-Five Million Naira) from Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited through Osarenkhoe Afe, knowing that the said sum was stolen from the Federal Government of Nigeria under the guise of a contract for biometric enrolment of pensioners, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 317, read in conjunction with Section 316, of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, 2007.”

Count two reads: “That Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina and Ann Igwe Olachi, between July and December 2011 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly received an aggregate sum of ₦153,146,719.99 (One Hundred and Fifty-Three Million, One Hundred and Forty-Six Thousand, Seven Hundred and Nineteen Naira, Ninety-Nine Kobo) from Xangee Technologies Limited, knowing that the said sum was stolen from the Federal Government of Nigeria under the guise of a biometric enrolment contract, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 317, read in conjunction with Section 316, of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, 2007.”

Both defendants pleaded not guilty, prompting the commencement of trial.

EFCC

Alleged $6b Mambilla Power Contract: Tinubu Hails EFCC for FG’s Victory at Arbitration Tribunal

Published

8 hours ago

September 18, 2026

Staff Editor

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed appreciation to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for its investigation of the alleged fraudulent contract award of $6 billion for the construction of 3,960mw Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited, SPTCL.

The Commission’s investigations were pivotal to the September 17, 2026 victory of the federal government over the contractor company at the International Arbitration Tribunal.

The President in celebration of the federal government’s victory over SPTCL hailed the Commission for its findings in the irregular contract award.

“On behalf of the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I strongly commend the tremendous efforts of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi and the entire team at the Federal Ministry of Justice for their efforts in this matter.

“I also commend the FRN defence team, led by Ms Elizabeth Oger-Gross and Mr Tolu Obamuroh, both of Paul Hastings LLP, for their professional and excellent defence of the country.
“I commend the patriotism and support of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and late President Muhammadu Buhari, who testified in the case, which dated back to an illegal 2003 contract to build a 3,050-megawatt hydroelectric plant in Taraba State under a build-operate-transfer model. The Federal Executive Council never authorised the contract.

“I thank the other witnesses in this case, including former Ministers Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, and Suleiman Adamu, and the experts, for their active participation in defending Nigeria’s interest in the arbitration.
“I commend the National Security Adviser for his support and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for its investigation into the case.

“I want to assure you that while our country remains committed to partnering with genuine investors and honouring its legal obligations, it will continue to defend all opportunistic claims instituted against our commonwealth, strongly”

“Today’s ICC ruling clears the single biggest legal hurdle that has paralysed the Mambilla hydro power project for years” he said.

The International Arbitration Tribunal under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce, ICC, Paris, while ruling in favour of the country, rejected the damages of $680 million demanded by SPTCL as a settlement sum and interest in respect of another arbitration in which it is claiming over $2.7 billion in compensation and interest, relating to disputes associated with the construction of the 3960mw Mambila Hydroelectric Power Project in the arbitration instituted by the company against the federal government.

The former minister of power, Olu Agunloye had on May 22, 2003 awarded the project on a Build, Operate and Transfer Basis” to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited, SPTCL.

Investigations by the EFCC established that the former minister awarded the contract without the approval of the National Executive Council, then chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, making such award inconsistent with federal government’s procedure on award of contracts.

Investigations showed that the award was suffused with favouritism as the owner of the company, Leno Adesanya and the former minister are old time pals, who also in August, 2019 caused SPTCL to transfer the sum of N3,600,000.00 (Three Million Six Hundred Thousand Naira) to the former minister’s Guaranty Trust Bank account no.0022530926.

These non-standard developments surrounding the contract led to its revocation by the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government and the subsequent prosecution of the minister on a seven-count charge, bordering on fraudulent award of contract and official corruption by the Commission.

Agunloye’s prosecution subsists since Wednesday, January 10, 2024.

He was arraigned before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja,

SPTCL dragged the federal government to the International Arbitration Tribunal, seeking monetary compensation for the contract the Tribunal established it never awarded in the first place.

EFCC

EFCC Hands Over Recovered N140m to Loan Firm in Lagos

Published

10 hours ago

September 18, 2026

Staff Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Okotie-Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, September 17, 2026, handed over the sum of N140,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Forty Million Naira) to an investment and money-lending company, B4 Sail Limited.

The recovery of the funds, handed over in bank drafts by the Acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Bawa Usman Kaltungo, followed investigations into an alleged case of obtaining money by false pretence and diversion of funds involving one Jacob Oyebola Esan and companies linked to him.

In a petition submitted on April 20, 2026, B4 Sail Limited alleged that Esan, on behalf of his company, Geo Fields Plc, had approached the company in August 2025 for a N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) loan facility to boost his business.

The loan facility, according to the petitioner, attracted an interest rate of 15 per cent per month and had a tenor of one month.

Investigation revealed that Esan, who is the first suspect, had previously obtained other loan facilities from the company, bringing his total loan exposure to N1,065,000,000.00 (One Billion, Sixty-Five Million Naira).

It was also revealed that Esan pledged shares held by him as collateral for the facilities through Calyx Securities Limited, the clearing house for the stocks, with the understanding that the shares would be subject to a lien in favour of B4 Sail Limited and that the company would have the first right of payment upon the sale of the shares.

The lien, investigation revealed, was communicated to B4 Sail Limited through a letter signed by the second suspect, Gbolahan Azeez Bello, Managing Director, Calyx Securities Limited.

Further investigation, however, revealed that the shares pledged as collateral had been sold without the knowledge of the petitioner, resulting in the suspect’s alleged default in repaying the facilities.

Consequently, the outstanding loan and accrued interest had risen to N2,250,500,000.00 (Two Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira).

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Kaltungo stated that the recovery “represents a further step in the Commission’s efforts to ensure that funds and assets recovered in the course of its investigations are appropriately returned to legitimate owners and victims in accordance with due process.

EFCC

COPSUN Applauds EFCC on NELFUND

Published

1 day ago

September 17, 2026

Staff Editor

The Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities in Nigeria (COPSUN) has commended the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, for his support for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and efforts to boost the education sector.

The Chairman of COPSUN, Prof. Ayodeji Omole, gave the commendation in Abuja on Thursday, September 17, 2026, when he led a delegation of the committee on a courtesy visit to the EFCC’s Corporate Headquarters.

Omole said the committee appreciated Olukoyede’s role in supporting NELFUND, noting that the scheme had helped prevent many students from dropping out of school.

He urged Olukoyede to sustain his support for the scheme while also calling for stronger collaboration between the EFCC and state-owned universities.

The COPSUN Chairman said, “We appreciate the EFCC Chairman for the role he has played in NELFUND. As university policymakers, we know what NELFUND has done in the lives of some students who ordinarily would have dropped out of school as a result of financial constraints. We continue to encourage the Executive Chairman and his team to support the scheme.”

He proposed that the Commission establish institutes in universities where some of its activities could be domiciled, stressing that such collaboration would promote knowledge-sharing and research.

Omole added that the EFCC could leverage the expertise of university lecturers in research and other areas, while the partnership could also provide an avenue to educate students on the dangers of corruption.

“We appeal to the Commission to collaborate with our universities. The Executive Chairman cannot fight corruption alone. The Commission needs the support of our lecturers and experts in the universities in areas such as research, among others. The opportunities will also be used to train our students on the dangers of corruption and cybercrime,” he said.

Olukoyede, in his response, thanked the lecturers for their dedication and commitment to upholding standards in state-owned universities.

He stressed the importance of education to national development, noting that depriving a country of a functional education system would undermine its progress and leadership.

Olukoyede said, “When you take the educational sector from a nation, it cannot be developed, and there will be no good leadership, as education gives knowledge.

“We need to discourage the younger ones from doing the wrong things and let them know the consequences. We need to encourage them to channel their skills to add value to themselves. That is what motivated us to develop a Cyber Research Academy. With time, we will incorporate the universities into this structure. The idea is to develop the skills of our younger ones in the areas of ICT and research.”

In August 2026, President Bola Tinubu directed that additional recovered funds from the Commission be diverted to NELFUND to sustain its growing funding obligations.