Crime
How 1.5bn Naira Fraud Rocks Office Of Ebonyi SSG, Grace Umezurike
How 1.5bn Naira Fraud Rocks Office Of Ebonyi SSG, Grace Umezurike
How 1.5bn naira fraud Rocks office of Ebonyi SSG, Grace Umezurike . The Secretary to Ebonyi State Government, Professor Grace Umezurike has been accused by Concerned Ebonyi Good Governance Advocate, Sir Nwoba Chika Nwoba for alleged diversion of the sum of N1.5 billion.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Mr Nwoba alleged that Professor Umezurike was given N4 billion by the Ebonyi State Government to procure bags of rice in 2023 for Christmas celebration across the state in 2023.
Nwoba said unfortunately, the rice presented by the SSG fell short of what N4 billion could buy.
According to him, “subsequent investigation was launched to unravel the game played by the SSG. It was discovered that the SSG pocketed N1.5 billion for herself, lodging it in different UBA bank accounts bearing her name and an aide of Sen. David Umahi, Onyeabo Ngene.”
The statement reads in full,
” This is to bring to the notice of the Ebonyi people and the general public the financial malfeasance going on in the current Government of Ebonyi State, the immediate one being the case of diversion of the sum of N1.5 billion by the secretary to the government of Ebonyi State, Professor Grace Umezurike.
Professor Umezurike was given N4 billion by the Ebonyi State Government to procure bags of rice in 2023 for Christmas celebration across the state in 2023. Unfortunately, the rice presented by the SSG fell short of what N4 billion could buy.”
“Subsequent investigation was launched to unravel the game played by the SSG. It was discovered that the SSG pocketed N1.5 billion for herself, lodging it in different UBA bank accounts bearing her name and an aide of Sen. David Umahi, Onyeabo Ngene. The Economic & Financial Crimes Commission invited her for questioning, but was soon blocked by Gov. Nwifuru for reasons not far from not exposing the disturbing quantity of corruption going on in his government.
But soon, the EFCC on its own went and obtained a court order from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State- based Federal High Court to gain forfeiture of the said amount of money lying dormant in the SSG’s bank accounts clearly traced to the botched Christmas rice procurement exercise.
See the attached pictures of the order of the court granting the request of the EFCC to recover the loot.”
“This whole heartbreaking episode was meant to be kept discreet to further give inspiration to the SSG and her acolytes in the looting spree going on in the current Ebonyi State Government.
So, I extracted it and decided to bring notice of members of the public to it. This is almost the smallest of such heists going on in the government which the governor, Francis Nwifuru is chiefly complicit in by always shielding the looters anytime they’re caught in the act.
Was it even the right thing to do giving an appointee of the government a contract, let alone to the tune of N4 billion? .”
“As a concerned Ebonyi child and a stakeholder in the contemporary Ebonyi project in my own right, I’m lending my voice to the call that the EFCC should arrest, arraign and secure a judgment against this depraved public office holder-SSG.
How 1.5bn Naira Fraud Rocks Office Of Ebonyi SSG
It’s noteworthy that this same SSG recently built three storey buildings in three places at the Ugwuachara axis of Abakaliki. This was the same woman who got her PhD around 2017 and by 2023 she became a Professor of Philosophy at the Ebonyi State University.
Everything about her seems to be shrouded in corruption and this goes a long mile to mean that Gov. Nwifuru assembled the worst team to help him wreck the ship of Ebonyi State. Concluding, I am urging the EFCC to expedite action in arraigning this SSG and use her to set deterrence for accountability in Ebonyi State.
At the same vein, her accomplices should be brought to reprimand as she may not have carried out the heist alone.
This is important moreover as the document indicting her undisputably is in the public background already. “
EFCC Arraigns Former SKye Bank Chairman, Tunde Ayeni For N15.6b Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, May 4, 2026, arraigned a former Chairman, Board of Directors of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, Tunde Ayeni before Justice Jude Onwuzuruike of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Apo, Abuja.
Ayeni was arraigned on a 17-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, misappropriation and conversion of investors’ funds to the tune N15,665,085,429 (Fifteen Billion, Six hundred and Sixty five Million, Eighty five thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty-nine Naira (N15,665,085,429).
Prosecution counsel E.E. Iheanacho, SAN, informed the court that the matter was slated for arraignment and prosecution ready for trial.
“We have before the court 17-count charge dated April 28, 2026, we humbly apply that the charge be read to the defendant”, he said.
Eereporter.com
Count three of the charge reads: “That you, Tunde Ayeni, whilst being the Chairman, Board of Directors of the defunct Skye Bank Plc between 21st of October, 2014 and 19th November, 2014 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and having dominion over depositors funds domiciled in the defunct Skye bank Plc’s Suspense Account, committed criminal breach of trust when you dishonestly misappropriated the aggregate sum of Three billion, Two hundred and One million, Five Hundred and Thirty Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty Nine Naira, Forty two kobo(N3,201,535,429.42) by transferring same to Misa Limited’s account No: 1011295717 and 1011295718 domiciled with Zenith Bank in Violation of the Prudential Guidelines and other regulations and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 312 of the same Act.
Count five of the charge reads: “That you Tunde Ayeni, whilst being the Chairman, Board of Directors of the Defunct Skye Bank Plc on or about 27th November, 2014, at Abuja within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and having dominion over depositors’ funds domiciled in the defunct Skye bank Plc’s Suspense Account, committed criminal breach of trust when you dishonestly misappropriated the sum of Five Billion, Seventy Eight million, Five hundred and Fifty thousand Naira(N5, 078,550,000) by transferring same to Union Registrar Limited’s Account No: 0003490559 domiciled with Union Bank in violation of the Prudential Guidelines and other Regulations and thereby Committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code and Punishable under Section 312 of same Act.”
Fraud
Ayeni pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.
In view of his “not guilty” plea, Iheanacho prayed the court for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a Correctional Centre.
Defence counsel, Ahmed Raji Bashir, SAN, informed the court that the charge was given to the defendant on a public holiday adding that he considered it imperative to inform the court. He also prayed the court to release the defendant to him or return him to the custody of the EFCC.
Justice Onwuzuruike adjourned the matter to May 13, 2026, for hearing of the bail application, while the defendant was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending determination of bail application.
EFCC Arraigns Fake BDC Operator For Alleged N78. 2m Fraud In Onitsha
The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned one Okeke Ejike Callistus, a fake Bureau De Change operator before Justice D. A. Onyefulu of the Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha, Anambra State.
Callistus was arraigned on a ten-count charge bordering on forgery and stealing to the tune of N78, 295, 000 (Seventy-eight million, Two hundred and Ninety-five thousand Naira).
Count one of the charge reads: “Mr. Okeke Ejike Callistus (trading under the name and style of Nwachimereze Amen Resources), sometime on the 2nd of May, 2024, at Onitsha, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Anambra State, did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the sum of N62, 745, 000. 00 (Sixty-two million, Seven hundred and Forty-five thousand Naira) being property of Ezegwu Leonard Chinedu trading under the name and style of Leatez Enterprises and thereby committed an offence”.
Eereporter.com
Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Okeke Ejike Callistus (trading under the name and style of Nwachimereze Amen Resources), sometime between the 3rd to the 7th of May, 2024 at Onitsha, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Anambra State, did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the sum of N15, 550, 000. 00 (Fifteen million, Five hundred and Fifty thousand Naira) being property of Ezegwu Leonard Chinedu and thereby committed an offence”.
The offence contravenes Section 342 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 36, Anambra State and punishable under Section 353 (12) of the same Law.
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against him by the Commission and in view of his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Rotimi Enitan Ajobiewe prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
However, defence counsel, Hypolite Ohaneche informed the court about a pending bail application before it, moved it and prayed the court to admit his client to bail.
Ajobiewe opposed the bail application on the ground that “there is likelihood of the defendant jumping bail due to the fact that he previously jumped bail granted him by the Commission”.
After listening to both sides, Justice Onyefulu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50million with two sureties. One of them must have a tax clearance certificate. The sureties must be related to the defendant, live within the jurisdiction of the court and have a National identification Number.
EFCC
The defendant was arrested when a petitioner, Ezeugwu Leonard Chinedu, claimed that he gave him the sum of N78, 295, 000 for onward transmission to his business partner in China.
Instead of remitting the money, the defendant remitted some and sent telex copies of “ABA Bank of Cambodia” for the outstanding amount, which upon presentation to the partner in China, were found to be fake.
During the course of investigation, the defendant admitted receiving the said sum but added that he diverted part of the money for his personal use.
Nigerian Navy Storms Dayspring Island, Routs Militants, Demolishes Hideout In Cross River
The Nigerian Navy has escalated its offensive against criminal elements in the maritime domain, delivering decisive blows to militant networks operating along the Calabar–Oron channel in Cross River State.
In a series of aggressive clearance operations, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) VICTORY and Forward Operating Base (FOB) IBAKA stormed Dayspring Island following the recent surge in kidnappings and related criminal activities.
The operation was anchored on the establishment of a forward security outpost at Idung 1 (Peacock Crossing), providing a tactical foothold for sustained dominance of the creeks and adjoining waterways.
The rapid offensive forced suspected militants to abandon their positions and flee upon contact with advancing naval troops. Maintaining relentless pressure, Nigerian Navy personnel, in conjunction with troops of the Nigerian Army 13 Brigade, secured key waterways and denied the criminals freedom of movement.
Eereporter.com
Exploitation of the area led to the discovery and destruction of a militant hideout linked to a notorious suspect known as “Juju” in the Idung axis. The suspect fled in disarray, abandoning two boats fitted with outboard engines, which were immediately seized. The hideout was subsequently demolished to eliminate its future use as a criminal sanctuary.
Further tightening the noose, troops tracked and apprehended one suspected informant providing support to the militant network. The suspect is currently in custody, undergoing interrogation and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
Nigerian Navy
To consolidate operational gains and choke criminal activity, a 13-hour restriction on maritime movement from 5:00 pm to 6:00 am has been enforced within the operational area.
Prior to the intervention, militant elements operated with impunity, conducting kidnappings and extorting riverine communities. The sustained naval onslaught has now degraded their operational capability, disrupted their logistics, and confined their activities deep within the creeks.
The Nigerian Navy remains resolute and will sustain this aggressive posture, ensuring that all criminal elements are flushed out and the maritime environment remains secure for lawful activities.
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