Kano EFCC Applauds Collaboration With Customs

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kano Zonal Directorate, has lauded its collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, stressing that it has yielded impressive operational results and improved relationship between the two agencies.

This disclosure was made in Kano by the EFCC’s Acting Zonal Director, Kano Directorate, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Friday . S. Ebelo, while receiving students of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, who visited the Kano Directorate on an educational visit.

According to him, “Our collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service has led to the interception of smuggled goods, recovery of illicit funds, and arrest of high-profile economic offenders. The fight against illegal trade and money laundering requires that we understand each other’s operational frameworks. This visit is a step toward building a more formidable, coordinated response”.

He also stated that the visit, themed: “Customs Protect Society Through Effective Interagency Collaboration and Border Control”, underscored the critical role of seamless interagency collaboration in safeguarding Nigeria’s borders and economy. The delegation, comprising mid-level and senior officers of the NCS, was led by the Commandant of the College, Assistant Controller General of Customs, D. Gaura.

Speaking further on the visit, Ebelo emphasized that no single agency can effectively combat cross-border financial crimes, smuggling, and other economic sabotage without robust intelligence sharing and joint operations. He noted that the EFCC and NCS shared a common mandate in protecting the nation’s revenue and economic integrity.

In his remarks, Gaura commended the EFCC for its transparency and operational effectiveness. He explained that the study tour was designed to expose the students to the practical realities of interagency synergy, adding that modern Customs administration goes beyond cargo examination to include intelligence-driven financial investigations.

EFCC

He stressed that Customs officers must understand how the EFCC tracks proceeds of smuggling, transborder crimes and how the two agencies can jointly disrupt the financial lifelines of organized cross-border crime. While emphasizing on the theme of the tour, Guara stated that the visit reflected his conviction that Customs’ protection of society is only fully realized when the service works hand-in-hand with the EFCC and other law enforcement bodies.

Highlights of the visit included a lecture session delivered by the Head of Visa Fraud Malpractice Section, Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, CSE Victor Ikang on the theme of the tour. Also featured in the tour was a question and answer session held between the students and the Acting Zonal Director on issues related to confiscated items linked to currency smuggling, money laundering and other financial crimes.

The students also participated in an interactive session on intelligence sharing protocols, joint investigation procedures, and legal frameworks governing interagency collaboration.

ICPC Arraigns El-Rufai On A Nine-Count Charge, Separates Trial From Co-Defendant

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, before Honourable Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court 5 on a nine-count charge bordering on alleged advance fee fraud and money laundering.

The arraignment, which took place on Monday, followed the amendment of the original charge by the Commission’s prosecution counsel, Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, who separated the joint charge earlier filed against Mallam El-Rufai and his co-defendant, Amadu Sule.

The amendment became necessary due to the continued absence of the second defendant, Amadu Sule, who was reported to be unavailable in court on account of a medical condition.

Following the development, the court granted the application for amendment, allowing the prosecution to proceed with the arraignment of Mallam El-Rufai independent of the second defendant.

Mallam El-Rufai was subsequently arraigned on nine amended charges which allege various infractions under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017, and Kaduna State Public Procurement Law, 2017.

Upon the reading of the charges, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State pleaded not guilty to all nine charges.

Counsel to the prosecution thereafter urged the court to fix a date for trial and to make appropriate orders to ensure the defendant’s attendance throughout the proceedings.

The defence counsel, in response, informed the court of a pending application and prayed for bail on liberal terms.

El-Rufai

After listening to both parties, the court adjourned for ruling on the bail application to Tuesday, 14th of April, 2026, and further ruled that Mallam El-Rufai should remain in the custody of the ICPC.

J. Okor Odey
Head, Media & Public Communications, ICPC.

NUJ Southwest Commends Ola Olukoyede For Result-Driven Fight Against Corruption

NUJ southwest commends Ola Olukoyede. The Southwest leadership of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, has commended the pragmatic efforts and approach of the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede in tackling economic and financial crimes in public offices and cybercrime among Nigerian youths.

The Commendation was given in Ibadan, Oyo State when the NUJ delegation led by its Vice President, Comrade Aderonke Samo, represented by the Ondo State Chairman of the body, Prince Leke Adegbite paid a familiarization visit to the Acting Zonal Director of the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Hauwa Garba Ringim.

“This visit basically is to commend you, for the excellent works you have been doing regarding the fight against corruption, mismanagement of public funds in public service and cybercrimes among our youths in Oyo State and Southwest in general since you have been appointed as the Director in Ibadan Directorate.

“Sincerely, we thank the Executive Chairman of the EFCC for putting a round peg in a round hole because this has led to efficiency and remarkable success so far in the fight against economic and financial crimes in Oyo State and Southwest at large”, he said.

He assured Ringim of the continued support and synergy from the NUJ Southwest, adding that members of the public must be further encouraged to embrace the whistleblower policy of the Commission towards effective and result driven fight against corruption.

Ola Olukoyede

Responding, Ringim acknowledged the unceasing and unequivocal support from the NUJ, stressing that the NUJ stands out as one of the most critical partners in the fight against economic and financial crimes in Nigeria. “EFCC under the leadership of Olukoyede recognizes the pivotal roles played so far by Nigerian journalists in the fight and will always appreciate their efforts for their just and unbiased reports of events and activities of the Commission”, she said.

While assuring the delegation of the EFCC’s partnership and adequate information sharing towards a better informed society, she called for a total press freedom and objective reporting of diverse issues that can move the nation forward.l