Police, EFCC Rescue 14 Abducted Victims From Calabar-Oron Waterways

The Nigeria Police Force in collaboration with operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has successfully secured the release of fourteen (14) victims abducted by sea pirates along the Calabar–Oron waterways.

The victims were rescued following sustained intelligence-driven operations, robust inter-agency collaboration, and coordinated tactical efforts targeting criminal elements operating within the maritime corridor. Acting on credible intelligence, joint operatives intensified surveillance and conducted targeted operations across identified flashpoints, leading to the safe rescue of all victims without harm.

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The rescued victims are currently undergoing medical evaluation and necessary debriefing, after which they will be reunited with their families.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, commended the joint security team for the successful rescue, describing it as a testament to effective inter-agency collaboration and intelligence-led operations.

Gunboats For Waterway Security

The Nigeria Police Force assures the public that efforts are ongoing to track down and apprehend all perpetrators involved in the abduction and bring them to justice.

DCP ANTHONY OKON PLACID, psc(+),mnipr, mni
Force Public Relations Officer
Force Headquarters, Abuja
28th April 2026

Olukoyede Tasks Universities On Use Of Artificial Intelligence In Ethical, Financial Management

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has called on universities across the country to urgently integrate Artificial Intelligence, AI, into their ethical and financial management systems as a transformative tool to combat corruption, enhance accountability and restore public trust.

Olukoyede made the call in Kano on Tuesday April 28, 2026 in a Keynote Address at the opening ceremony of the 8th Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State Universities in Nigeria, COPSUN.

Describing AI as a necessary defence,” the EFCC boss warned that the Nigerian university system cannot afford to be left behind in the global shift toward technology-driven governance.

The EFCC Chairman noted that Nigerian universities manage multi-billion-naira budgets, tuition fees, TETFund interventions, and research grants, yet accountability issues persist.

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“The EFCC has investigated cases involving inflated contracts, ghost workers, and diverted students’ fees in tertiary institutions across the federation. Each case represented not only a loss of public funds but also a betrayal of the trust that Nigerian parents, students, and taxpayers have placed in the university system”

“A university that lacks financial accountability cannot credibly train future accountants and auditors, and one that tolerates fraud cannot produce the ethical professionals our economy needs. The university’s integrity is thus a matter of national security, and AI offers transformative tools to defend it”, he said

The anti graft czar outlined specific areas where AI can strengthen ethical and financial management. These include, fraud detection, automated auditing, payroll integrity, procurement oversight, and academic integrity.

He cited notable operations where AI proved decisive at the EFCC such as “Operation Eagle Flush (December 2024) where the EFCC arrested 792 suspects including 193 foreign nationals (114 Chinese, 40 Filipinos, two Kazakhs, one Pakistani, and one Indonesian) in a seven-storey building in Victoria Island, Lagos. The syndicate operated cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scams targeting victims in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.”

Olukoyede urged university governing councils to act decisively by adapting AI technologies to day-to-day running of their systems

“I will recommend that you establish an AI and Digital Governance Committee within each Governing Council to drive responsible AI adoption. Create a Digital Integrity Strategy for finance, academic, and data protection within your institutions. Invest in digital infrastructure, broadband, cybersecurity, and cloud systems”, he said.

He also called for partnership with the EFCC and other agencies for joint training and intelligence exchange, and for adoption of an AI Code of Ethics to safeguard privacy, prevent bias, and protect academic freedom.

Although Olukoyede strongly pointed to the technological leeway AI tools are capable of offering universities, he cautioned that technology alone is not enough. “No matter how sophisticated the technology might be, its effectiveness ultimately depends on the integrity of the human beings who will utilise the tools. AI will therefore not work magic for the ivory towers if the integrity deficit that is palpable among the workforce is not addressed”, he said.

Olukoyede Tasks Universities On Use Of Artificial Intelligence

He also warned of potential downsides, including over‑reliance eroding professional judgement, loss of institutional autonomy, and cybersecurity risks from weak data stewardship.

“The fight against corruption is a national project that depends on the integrity of every institution, especially our universities.

The EFCC is ready to collaborate with you in training and intelligence sharing in the unwavering belief that integrity will lead Nigeria to greatness and transparency. This is possible. It is achievable”, he said.

Alleged $6.23m Fraud: Police Commissioner Confirms Emefiele Approved Payment To Foreign Election Observers

A Commissioner of Police, Eloho E. Ekpoziakpho, on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, told a Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Maitama, Abuja, that investigations into the alleged fraudulent withdrawal of $6.23 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, revealed that the payment was made with the approval of former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Ekpoziakpho, who testified as Prosecution Witness 14, PW14, before Justice Hamza Mu’azu, stated this while giving evidence in the ongoing trial of Emefiele on an amended 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office and conspiracy to obtain by false pretence.

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The witness, a Commissioner of Police in charge of the Special Fraud Unit, Lagos, said he previously served at the Force Intelligence Department where his duties included intelligence gathering on economic sabotage, terrorism financing and related offences.

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, the witness told the court that he participated in the interrogation of the defendant alongside Jim Obazee, the special investigator who led the defendant’s investigation.

“In the course of the investigation, we got intelligence on the 6.23 million dollars that was fraudulently taken from the CBN branch in Abuja that had the governor’s approval when the defendant was the governor. We did an investigation and that was what led to his interrogation. The defendant was investigated,” he said.

Ekpoziakpho further stated that investigations revealed that the money was fraudulently taken, adding that some suspects interrogated during the investigation confessed, while the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, denied requesting payment for foreign election observers.

The witness also identified a document said to have emanated from the SGF and purportedly conveying the approval of former President Muhammadu Buhari for the payment.

Explaining Exhibit PD6, the witness said it was a letter forwarding the President’s approval from the SGF for the CBN to pay $6.23 million to foreign election observers dated January 26, 2023.

He further stated that the document was addressed to Emefiele in his capacity as Governor of the CBN.

“Our findings relating to that document showed that it was honoured. It was treated and the money was paid. We recovered the document from the CBN where the money was cashed,” he said.

The witness also identified Exhibit PD1 as the details of the payment made in dollars, stating that the amount paid was $6.23 million on February 8, 2023.

He further described Exhibit PD2 as a memo from the Director of Banking Services, CBN Abuja, conveying approval and instructing that the $6.23 million be paid.

At that point, defence counsel, Matthew Burkaa, SAN, objected in line with Section 128 of the Evidence Act, arguing that the witness could not give evidence on documents supplied by the prosecution.

Responding, Oyedepo, SAN, argued that the documents being referred to had already been admitted in evidence before the court.

“With profound respect, I have a burden and I urge my learned friend to allow me and my team discharge our duties properly.

Emefiele

We cannot allow the witness to give evidence without backing it up with documents. Section 128 they have referred to did not prevent a witness from giving oral evidence explaining the document in line with the case before the court. That section did not prevent explanation from the document by the investigator,” he said.

In his ruling, Justice Mu’azu held that since the documents were already before the court, the witness could be asked questions on them but could not delve into the contents of the documents.

Earlier in the trial, the witness identified the defendant and also confirmed that he knew Jim Obazee, whom he described as a special investigator appointed by the President to investigate the CBN.

According to him, Obazee requested police officers from the Nigeria Police Force to assist in carrying out the assignment.

“As the officer who led other officers in the special investigation, I assisted in taking statements, interrogating persons who were complicit in one way or another. I also provided intelligence to aid our work,” he said.

The judge thereafter adjourned the matter till July 2 and 3, 2026 for continuation of trial.