Crime
EFCC Rejects Claims To Asked DSS To Arrest activist Over Host Community Funds
EFCC Rejects Claims To Asked DSS To Arrest activist Over Host Community Funds
EFCC rejects claims it asked DSS to arrest activist. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed claims in an online report alleging that the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Moses Oddiri, a human rights activist and lawyer, on the orders of the commission’s chairman.
The report had claimed that DSS operatives stormed Oddiri’s residence, breaking padlocks and entering his room while his 17-year-old son and daughter were present.
In a statement on Friday, Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, said the publication falsely suggested that Oddiri was picked up over a petition from the chairman concerning alleged diversion of funds meant for a host community.
The anti-graft agency spokesperson said the narrative was “a falsehood taken too far”.
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“Oddiri’s story is a story of pursuit of self-interests against communal welfare,” the statement reads.
“The Niger Delta Host Community Trust Fund, paid into the bank accounts of two Host Community Benefit Trusts (HCBTs), as prescribed by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), is the bone of contention.
“Oddiri wanted the funds paid into his non-governmental organisation’s (NGO’s) account in flagrant violation of the PIA.
“The background to the payment of the funds is this: the EFCC chairman, incensed by the delayed payment of the fund to two host communities in Delta state, directed that diligent investigations be carried out.
“Defaulting companies were uncovered, and the results of the probe led to the payment of the funds as prescribed by the PIA and Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) guidelines.
“The funds, paid in 2024, were lodged in the bank accounts of the two HCBTs. However, since the payment was made, Oddiri has been on the offensive against the EFCC and its executive chairman, claiming that it was not paid into his NGO account.”
The EFCC spokesperson said Oddiri has since launched a campaign against the commission for refusing to divert the money to his organisation.
He said the EFCC convened stakeholder meetings in Lagos and Abuja to address the dispute, with community leaders, regulators, and oil company representatives in attendance.
In one of the meetings, the EFCC chairman was quoted as saying: “Our role is to ensure that funds designated for a particular community are not diverted elsewhere, that unauthorised individuals do not illicitly benefit, and that resources are channelled into tangible development projects such as electricity and potable water.”
‘EFCC WON’T BE STAMPEDED’
Oyewale said Oddiri’s “attempts to tarnish the reputation of the EFCC chairman” were longstanding, adding that his allegations had appeared repeatedly across social media and online platforms.

EFCC
He said the commission would file a suit against the “latest malicious publication” by the online portal.
He added that leaders of the two host communities were aware of the activist’s “self-serving agenda”, noting that there were already legal actions against him from the EFCC chairman and Heritage Energy Operational Services (HEOS), alongside a petition to the DSS.
“The EFCC will not be stampeded or blackmailed into compromising extant legal frameworks for the disbursement of the funds to the two host communities,” he said.
“The media is enjoined to always balance its reporting and not allow characters like Oddiri to sway it into prejudice and blackmail.”
Oyewale also reiterated the commission’s commitment to its mandate and said it would always act in the national interest.
Crime
EFCC Arrests Serial Fraudster Over Alleged N20m Visa Fraud In Enugu
EFCC Arrests Serial Fraudster Over Alleged N20m Visa Fraud In Enugu
EFCC arrests serial fraudster over alleged N20m visa fraud in Enugu. He said the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.
Its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
Mr Oyewale said the suspect was facing interrogation for allegedly obtaining N19.9 million from three victims under the pretence of assisting them to process visas.
He listed the three petitioners as Osmond Ugwu, Ugwu Chidubem, and Amadiani Chinedu, who alleged that they were defrauded by the suspect.
According to him, Mr Ugwu claimed that he met the suspect in 2018 when he was planning to travel abroad.
“The suspect reportedly presented himself as a visa agent, and lured him with an offer of a Red-cross sponsored visa to the United States of America at the cost of N1.8 million, excluding his flight ticket.
“Ugwu allegedly paid N4 million for the arrangement as well as other payments, which brought the total sum the suspect collected from him to N11.8 million.”
Mr Oyewale also said that the second petitioner, Mr Chidubem, claimed that the suspect conspired with his friend to defraud him of the sum of N5.9 million.
“The suspect assured Chidubem that he will procure genuine documents for him to further pursue his football career abroad.
“The third victim, Chinedu, in his own petition alleged that the suspect defrauded him to the tune of N2.2 million to procure a work permit and an accompanying visa to enable him to migrate to Australia.

EFCC
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the 44-year-old suspect, who is an electrical engineer, was parading himself as a visa processing agent who helps people to migrate abroad easily.
“It was also discovered that he is not a licensed travel agent,” Mr Oyewale said.
He added that the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.
Crime
Court Sentences Former Accountant-General Nwabuoku To 72 Years In Prison Over N868m Fraud
Court Sentences Former Accountant-General Nwabuoku To 72 Years In Prison Over N868m Fraud
Former accountant-general Nwabuoku to 72 years in prison. Delivering judgment on Monday, James Omotosho, presiding judge, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had proved its case against Nwabuoku.
Nwabuoku was arraigned on a nine-count amended charge bordering on money laundering and fraud to the tune of N868.4 million.
He was granted bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024, the anti-graft agency accused Nwabuoku of conspiring with several companies, including Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited, and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited, to convert funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The alleged offence, according to the EFCC, contravenes section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012), and is punishable under section 15(3) of the Act.
The commission said Nwabuoku committed the offences while serving as the director of finance and accounts in the ministry of defence between 2019 and 2021.
The former acting accountant general had filed a no-case submission which was dismissed by the court in November 2025.

Court
Nwabuoku was appointed acting accountant-general of the federation on May 20, 2022, by then President Muhammadu Buhari, following the suspension of Ahmed Idris over alleged N80 billion fraud.
But Nwabuoku was removed from the position in July 2022, barely weeks after assuming office, following reports that he was under EFCC investigation.
Crime
Contractor Julius Ejiogu Bags Two Years Imprisonment For Forgery
Contractor Julius Ejiogu Bags Two Years Imprisonment For Forgery
Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State has convicted and sentenced Julius Ejiogu, a contractor to two years imprisonment for forgery.
The convict was arraigned on a three -count charge of conspiracy, forgery and uttering of false document on March 23, 2021 by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Upon arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to the charge setting the stage for trial.
The charge reads: “That you Julius Eljiogu and one Engr. E. Expert (at large) on or about the 2nd of August 2013, at Delta State within the jurisdiction of this honourable did conspires amongst yourselves to committed felony to wit: make a document titled Award of Contract for the Construction of Obudu-operation Road in Udu L.G.A. Delta State dated 2nd August 2013 on a letterhead paper on the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, purported to have been issued or emanated from NDDC for the award of Contract which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act Cap M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act 2007 and punishable under Section 3 (1)(C) of the same Act.”
In the course of the trial, prosecution counsel, K.Y. Bello called four witnesses and tendered several documents which were admitted by the court while the defendant testified as sole witness for his case.

Jail
Justice Olubanjo in his judgment (on Thursday January 15, 2026) found the defendant guilty on count one of the charge but discharged and acquitted him on count two and three . The judge consequently sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment with an option of N1 million fine.
The convict’s road to jail began when he purportedly got a letter for the award of Contract for the Construction of Obudu-Oleri Road in Udu Local Government Area, Delta State from one Engr. Eshitt of the Niger Delta Development Commission. He went ahead to sell the contract to the petitioner for N2 million only for him to discover that the said contract award was fake.
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