Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

05/06/2026

N36M Fraud: Court Reserves Ruling on Blessing CEO’s Bail Application

Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, June 5, 2026, reserved ruling until June 9, 2026, on the bail application filed by social media influencer and relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO. Blessing is standing trial on a two-count charge filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC, bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N36 million. Visit www.efcc.gov.ng for details and more stories.

05/06/2026

04/06/2026

EFCC Arraigns CEO for Alleged N500, 000 Fraud in Maiduguri

The Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, June 4, 2026, arraigned one Bilal Muhammad before Justice Amina Mustapha Ibrahim of the Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri.

The defendant was arraigned on a two -count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretense to the tune of N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira).

Count one reads: "That you, Bilal Muhammad whilst being the Chief Executive Officer of GDF Home Sales Enterprises Ltd (a.k.a GDF Company) on or about April, 2025 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from Adamu Abubakar, under the false pretense that same is meant for the purchase of a Tricycle (aka Keke Napep), a representation which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006."

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.

Following his plea, prosecution counsel A.D Abdulmalik prayed for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a Correctional facility.

Justice Ibrahim thereafter adjourned the matter till June 22, 2026 for commencement of hearing and ordered the remand of the defendant in Maiduguri maximum Correctional facility.

04/06/2026

EFCC Arraigns One for Alleged N650m Fraud in Maiduguri

The Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday and Thursday, June 3 & 4, 2026 arraigned one Abubakar Muhammad before Justices Shehu Umaru Adamu of the Federal High Court and Amina Mustapha Ibrahim of the Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri respectively.

The defendant was arraigned on three and two separate count charges bordering on money laundering, criminal misappropriation and breach of trust to the aggregate sum of N650,000,000.00 (Six Hundred and Fifty Million Naira).

Count one of the charge reads: "That you, Abubakar Muhammad, between January, 2021 to February, 2026, at Maiduguri, Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did commit an offence to wit: directly converts the aggregate sum of N650,000,000.00 (Six Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) via your account numbers; 2270202119, 0003515514 and 5072107609 domiciled with United Bank for Africa Plc, Taj Bank and Moniepoint Microfinance Bank, which you ought to have reasonably known or ought to have known that it forms part of proceeds of an unlawful activity under the guise that the said amount represent payment for a purported investment in mining business which was to be managed by you and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (b) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2011."

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.

Counsel to the prosecution, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed prayed for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in the EFCC custody. Counsel to the defendant, B.G Zanna moved an application for the bail of the defendant before Justice Ibrahim and thereafter, the judge granted the defendant bail in the sum of N300, 000,000.00 ( Three Hundred Million Naira) with two sureties. One of the sureties must have a landed property worth N400, 000,000.00( Four Hundred Million Naira)


Justices Adamu and Ibrahim adjourned the matter till June 11 and 15, 2026 for commencement of hearing respectively.

Muhammad was arrested when a petitioner alleged that he was entrusted with the sales of Nestle Goods worth N650, 000,000.00 (Six Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) and allegedly manipulated the sales records and diverted the money for his personal use.

04/06/2026

Arraigns UNIBEN Staff for N3.2m Fraud

The Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC has arraigned one Segun Bode Adedeji, a staff of the University of Benin, before Justice E. G. Adekanmbi of Edo State High Court on a four-count charge bordering on fraudulent practice to the tune of N3,285,396 (Three Million, Two Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety-Six Naira) only. Adedeji arraignment was sequel to intelligence gathering by operatives of the Commission which revealed that as a staff of the University of Benin, he was also drawing salaries from the National Orthopedic Hospital, Benin City, at the same time. Visit www.efcc.efcc.gov.ng for more stories.

03/06/2026

Court Jails One for N2.9m Crypto Fraud in Maiduguri



Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 convicted and sentenced one Bukar Ahmed Shuwa to ten years imprisonment.



The convict was arraigned on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a one -count amended charge for the offence of cheating to the tune of N2,950,000.00 (Two Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira).



The charge reads: "That you, Bukar Ahmed Shuwa sometimes in the year 2024 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court fraudulently induced one Mahmud Ali to deliver to you the aggregate sum of N2, 950,000.00 under the guise of Crypto Bitget Wallet Coin Investment and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 309 and punishable under Section 310 of the Penal Code Law and Other Matters Connected therewith Law, 2023."



The defendant pleaded 'guilty' to the charge when it was read to him.



Following his plea, prosecution counsel, A.D Abdulmalik prayed the court to convict him accordingly. While in the same vein, counsel to the defendant, H. Basharu pleaded for leniency and urged the court to temper justice with mercy upon him.



Basharu further stated that the convict had fully restituted the money to the petitioner and urged the court to sentence him with an option of fine.



Thereafter, Justice Kumaliya convicted and sentenced the convict to ten years imprisonment with an option of N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine.

The convict’s journey to the Correctional facility started when he fraudulently induced the petitioner to deliver to him the sum of N2.9m under the guise of Crypto Bitget Wallet Coin Investment and diverted the money to his personal use.

03/06/2026

Alleged N4.29bn Forex Fraud: Defendants' Absence Stalls Arraignment of UBA, Four Others



The arraignment of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, and four others for an alleged N4.29bn foreign exchange fraud before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja was, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, stalled due to the absence of the defendants in court.



UBA, alongside Muyiwa Akinyemi, Amangbo Eziashi Stephen, Geeos Global Service Limited and Fedat Global Limited, was to be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, on a four-count charge bordering on foreign exchange infractions, concealment of proceeds of unlawful activities, retention of criminal proceeds, and money laundering to the tune of N4.29bn.



One of the counts reads:

"That you, United Bank for Africa Plc, Muyiwa Akinyemi, Amangbo Eziashi Stephen, Geeos Global Service Limited and Fedat Global Limited, between 14th September, 2022 through 20th March, 2023 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to sell Forex above the rates stipulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence."



Another count reads: “That you, United Bank for Africa Plc, Muyiwa Akinyemi, Amangbo Eziashi Stephen, Geeos Global Service Limited and Fedat Global Limited, sometime in September 2022, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, concealed the aggregate sum of N4,290,112,796.72 (Four Billion, Two Hundred and Ninety Million, One Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Six Naira, Seventy-Two Kobo) in your United Bank for Africa Account No. NGN09991931102 derived directly from your illegal act."



When the matter was called for arraignment on Wednesday, the prosecution counsel, T. J. Banjo, announced his appearance. Adewale Kamourudeen appeared for the first, second and third defendants, while I. S. Hassan represented the fourth defendant.



There was no legal representation for the fifth defendant.



Addressing the court, Banjo stated that the matter was scheduled for a report on service of court processes and the arraignment of the defendants. According to him, all the defendants had been duly served with the charge and other court processes, adding that affidavits of service had already been filed before the court.



The prosecutor described the defendants' absence as another attempt to frustrate the trial. He further submitted that the Commission had made efforts to arrest the second and third defendants after they allegedly jumped the administrative bail earlier granted to them by the EFCC.



Banjo further told the court that he was surprised by the defendants' absence, despite the fact that they were served with the charge and relevant court processes. In response, counsel to the first, second and third defendants, Kamourudeen, maintained that his clients had not been served with either the information or any court processes relating to the case.



He argued that the defendants only became aware of the charge through media reports.



"The first, second and third defendants have not been served with the information or the hearing notice for today's proceedings or the previous adjourned date. We got wind of it through newspaper reports. That is why we are here," he said.



He added that he needed to examine the court’s file to ascertain the nature of the proof of service relied upon by the prosecution.



Responding, Banjo, however, dismissed the defence's position, informing the court that UBA's Compliance Officer, Chima Okugbo, received service on behalf of the bank and the two individual defendants, Akinyemi and Stephen. According to him, Okugbo had consistently represented the bank during the investigations and was also the person who accepted service on behalf of the two officials.



When Justice Oshodi asked the defence counsel whether he was willing to accept service on behalf of his clients, he declined, stating that he had no instructions to do so.



Thereafter, Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter till June 16, 2026 for a report on service, arraignment, and further proceedings.

03/06/2026

EFCC Arraigns Oil Magnate, Musa Abubakar, Two Others for AllegeN691m Fraud



The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, arraigned the Managing Director of Abu-Haneefa Oil and Gas Ltd, Musa Farouk Abubakar; his company, Abu-Haneefa Oil and Gas Ltd, and one Sandra Chizoba Attoh before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, for fraud.

They were arraigned on amended 15-count charge, bordering on conspiracy to commit fraud, corruption and money laundering to the tune of N691,677,310.00 (Six Hundred and Ninety-one Million, Six Hundred and Seventy-seven Thousand, Three Hundred and Ten Naira).

Count 10 of the charge reads: “That you Musa Farouk Abubakar, being the Managing Director of Abu Haneefa Oil and Gas Ltd on or about 21st July 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court transferred the total sum of N297,000,000 (Two hundred and ninety-seven million Naira) from Abu-Haneefa Oil and Gas Ltd account No.1313378899 with Zenith Bank Plc to account no. 0108910277 of Sandra Chizoba Attoh with Access Bank Nigeria when you reasonably ought to have known that the said money formed part of the proceeds of unlawful act to wit: corruption and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(b) of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”

Count 11 reads: “That you Musa Farouk Abubakar, sometime in July 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, procured one Sandra Chizoba Attoh to transfer the sum of N262,866,310.00 (Two hundred and sixty-two million, eight hundred and sixty six thousand, three hundred and ten Naira) from her account no. 0108910277 with Access Bank Nigeria Plc to account no. 0003457246 of Mshell Homes Ltd with Taj Bank Ltd for the purchase of property at Kapital Villa Guzape, Abuja when you reasonably ought to have known that the said money formed part of the proceeds of unlawful act to wit: corruption and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(c) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”

They pleaded “not guilty,” prompting the prosecution counsel, Rita Ogar to ask the court for a trial date and to remand the defendants in a Correctional Centre, while counsel to the first and second defendant, Ishaka M. Dikko informed the court that he had filed a bail application for the first defendant on May 19, 2026 and asked that he be remanded in EFCC’s custody. “We were served with the counter affidavit on June 1, 2026 but we apply that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the prosecution,” he said.

Counsel for the third defendant, YG Haruna, SAN, also informed the court that he filed an application for his client’s bail on June 1, 2026 and received the prosecution’s counter-affidavit on June 2, 2026.

In opposing the bail applications, the prosecution counsel stated that her team has “overwhelming evidence in the case” and informed the court that the prosecution has filed counter-affidavits to the bail applications through Hayatu Bello. “It is a 20-paragraph affidavit. We attached two exhibits, Exhibit EFCC 1 and EFCC 2. We have filed a written address and rely on all the issues raised and respectfully urge the court to refuse the applications,” he said.

Having listened to both sides, Justice Egwuatu ordered that the first defendant be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending his counsel’s filing of response to the prosecution’s counter-affidavit, while he admitted the third defendant to bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties in like sum. The two sureties, the judge held, should be residents of Abuja, and must deposit their passport photographs, and have an acceptable means of identification. In addition, they must be property owners, while one of them must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 15, and must deposit his letter of appointment and last promotion with the court.

He adjourned the matter till September 1 and 2, 2026 for trial.

03/06/2026

SCUML, NFIU, Others in Mutual Evaluation Stock-taking Session

The Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, SCUML, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, and other Stakeholders which include Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC; Real Estate Association Of Nigeria, REDAN; Mining Cadastral Office, MCO; Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN; Jewelry Marketers Association Of Nigeria, JEMA, Federation of State Gaming Regulation and Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, ANAN, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, had a Mutual Evaluation Stock-taking Session on strengthening Nigeria’s AML/CFT coordination ahead of the 2027 Mutual Evaluation Exercise. The event took place at the SCUML Headquarters, Wuse, Abuja.