News
Alleged N2b NEDC Fraud: Again, Absence Of Defendant Stalls Trial
Alleged N2b NEDC Fraud: Again, Absence Of Defendant Stalls Trial
The absence of the National Coordinator of Multi-Sectional Crisis Recovery Projects, MCRP, North East Development Commission, NEDC, Danjuma Mohammed on Thursday, June 25, 2026, stalled his trial before Justice K. N. Ogbonnaya of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Zuba, Abuja.
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Justice Ogbonnaya who frowned at the absence of the defendant on two sittings consecutively without any provable reason before the court, noted that there was no medical report before the court to show that the defendant was ill and receiving medical attention as the defence team claimed.
The first defendant, Mohammed is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside Prince Achem and Aminu Alhaji (at large) on amended 54-count charge, bordering on conspiracy, false pretence, financial fraud and forgery to the tune of N2.2 billion.
At Monday`s proceedings, prosecution counsel, Joshua Saidi informed the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed with the trial with its witnesses in court and ready to testify, while the defence counsel, Chuka Obidike informed the court that the first defendant was still undergoing surgery. He sought to tender his medical report before the court and requested for an adjournment.
Also counsel to the second defendant, J.J. Usman, who said that he came prepared for the proceedings added that he became constrained when he heard from the counsel to the first defendant that his client was going to have a second surgery and likely to have the third due to complications in his health.
The prosecution counsel, in his response, urged the court to discountenance the medical report and refuse the defence counsel’s prayer for adjournment as he was not in receipt of any report of the first defendant’s ill health to warrant his continued absence in court.
“My lord, I apply that it should be on record that this is not the first time, this is the second time that our witnesses are coming all the way from the Northeast. As I speak, no written report from the first defendant has been brought to my attention nor has it been served on me. My lord, if we have gotten prior notice we won’t have bothered our witnesses to come from the Northeast.
The implication now is that when this defendant jumps bail, we may not know who the surety is, therefore counsel is not in the position to tell the court the whereabouts of the first defendant. Therefore, we submit that there is no reasonable excuse why the first defendant is not in court. In the circumstances, I apply for the revocation of his bail and the issuance of bench warrant against him and also a notice to the surety to show cause why he will not forfeit the bail bond. We therefore urge your lordship to discountenance their excuses and accordingly grant our prayer,” he said.
The judge, in her ruling, faulted the tendering of the medical report, as no trial proceeding was going on at the moment and no witness testifying or being cross-examined. With no such process going on in court, the judge stated the medical report cannot therefore, be tendered in evidence, but rather through an application made through the registrar of the court.
“The application is misleading, as counsel did not serve the court with any medical report at the last adjourned date. The court is surprised at the counsel in this matter that they did not deem it fit to serve the court, when they know it should be served on the court. Even if an application is made at the Court of Appeal regarding bail, that doesn’t mean the defendant will jump bail at the lower court.
Fraud
As far as I am concerned, the whereabouts of the defendant is unknown to the court, the oral submission that he is due for a surgery is on the basis of hearsay, not verification. Nobody is receiving the application because the court is not doing a trial and no witness is testifying.
The court has laid bare all that has transpired, however, the court will not revoke the bail, but exercise discretionary power not by the submission made by the counsel to the first defendant. The court will adjourn for the last time on the instance of the first defendant for now and the bail revocation will be placed in abeyance,” she said.
She adjourned the matter till September 25,29, 2026 for continuation of trial.
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LG Council Chairman Construct Ultra-Modern Market Complex In Akwa Ibom
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno set to the inaugurate an ultra modern market complex constructed by the Chairman of Nsit Ubium local government area, Mr Alfred Charles.
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The market comprises 3 blocks containing 36 lock- up stores, 28 open sheds with 378 partitions and 6 multipurpose sheds without partitions, market office, modern lavatory, is located at Ubium South part of the area.
The Chairman who broke the news to journalists, said Governor Umo Eno’s imprint in Nsit Ubium local government area has inspired him precipitate good governance in the grassroots.
He said the market meant to be inaugurated on Tuesday, comes with a solar powered lighting, water and modern lavatory, meant to meat the challenges of contemporary society.
Hon. Alfred Charles, who reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving residents’ welfare through strategic infrastructure development, said the market was an answer to years of agitation by traders in the area.
Hon. Charles who also highlighted key achievements recorded by his administration in digital technology, youth and women empowerment, said the projects were designed to improve living standards, stimulate economic activities, and expand access to essential public services.
A major milestone of the administration, he noted, is the upgrade of the council’s ICT Centre into a fully accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre.
According to him, additional computer systems were procured to meet accreditation requirements, enabling the facility to host Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations while generating revenue for the local government.
He explained that the centre which has eliminated the need for many candidates to travel to Uyo or Eket to sit for their examinations, will complement the Youth Friendly Center of the State Government, nearing completion.
“Beyond JAMB, the facility also serves as a hub for digital literacy and computer training, particularly for secondary school students.”
On infrastructure, the chairman commended the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, for ongoing developmental projects across Nsit Ubium.
He cited the model secondary school, the General Hospital at Ikot Obio Ndo, the model farm, and several major and internal road projects as landmark interventions driving growth and improving livelihoods.
On his part, Hon. Charles also disclosed that access roads leading to the council secretariat and internal roads have been rehabilitated, bringing an end to the perennial flooding and muddy conditions that previously hindered movement during the rainy season.
He said the intervention has significantly improved accessibility for staff and visitors.
Market
Speaking on leadership, the chairman described public office as a call to service, stressing that the true measure of leadership lies in the positive impact made on the lives of the people.
He further acknowledged the contributions of his wife in mobilising women for community development initiatives and called on residents to remain united and continue supporting the administration through cooperation and prayers.
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News
Alleged N27b Fraud: Witness Reveals How N1.8b Meant For Christmas Grains In Taraba Was Siphoned
Alleged N27b Fraud: Witness Reveals How N1.8b Meant For Christmas Grains In Taraba Was Siphoned
A third Prosecution Witness, PW3, in the trial l of former Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku alongside the former permanent Secretary in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero, on Monday, July 13, 2026, informed Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory , FCT, High Court Abuja, how N1, 800, 000, 000, 000 (One Billion, Eight Hundred Million Naira), meant for the purchase of Christmas grains in Taraba State, was transferred into his company account from one of the Local Government Salary Transmission Accounts.
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Ishaku and Yero on a 15-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27,000,000,000.00 (Twenty-Seven Billion Naira).
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, the PW3, Taiwo Johns, informed the court that the money was deposited into his P3 Cornerstone International Nigeria Limited account, based on the Directive of his boss, the second defendant; the Director of Finance and the Chief Cashier.
“All the money paid to P3 Cornerstone was based on the directive of my boss, Alhaji Bello Yero, the permanent Secretary; Babangida Hassan, the Director of Finance and John Columba, the Chief Cashier, my immediate boss”, he said.
He disclosed that the defendants transferred funds to his accounts sixty-nine times adding that “there are serial number, date of transaction, account number debited and account name, beneficiary account number, beneficiary account name and the amount.”
He added that all the sixty-nine times the money was sent to his company account was from Gassol local government in the state.
When asked by the prosecution counsel, if he had an idea of the amount the local government transferred into his account, the witness responded “the amount will be roughly about N1.7b to N1.8billion. On instruction of the Permanent Secretary, Bello Yero, Babangida Hassan, the Director of Finance and John Columba, the Chief Cashier.”
“What did you do with the money?”, the prosecution counsel asked.
“I reported back to them that some money entered my account, then they gave me further directives either to send it to Mr. Prince, that is PW2 or to withdraw some and after the withdrawal they came with Dare Lawal, PW1, he will confirm the money, and they will go with the money. Sometimes, Alhaji Bello Yero, the Permanent Secretary will come and take it to the government house.
“How do you know he took the money to the government house?”, the counsel further asked
“Sometimes I will carry him, the second defendant and drop him at the government house with the money in a Ghana Must Go bag, drop him and then go”, the witness responded.
He added that the money credited sixty-nine times into his account was from Gassol Local Government Salary Transmission Account adding that they always used the account for salary, projects, revenue and other purposes.
He said that they paid N100m into his P3 Cornerstone account on December 24, 2018, prepared by the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and authorised by the two signatories; the permanent Secretary and Director of Finance.
The PW3 informed the court that the narration on the E-payment is for the payment of purchase of assorted grains to be distributed during Christmas and New Year on December 24, 2018.
“Look at exhibit 9, see the last transaction on page 11 of exhibit 9, see the transaction on the 24 12 2018 what is it for?”, Jacob asked.
“The last transaction is N100m, for the purchase of assorted grains for distribution during Christmas. Some of the money was withdrawn cash. My lord, you may wish to know that the account is a business account, I wait for instruction, so when the money came in, the N100 million was withdrawn by me all in cash, it was handed over to Dare Lawal by me”, the witness said.
EFCC
He added that there was a cheque of N30m on page 3 of Exhibit 11 which is also paid to his company, P3 Cornerstone Account adding that the money was not used for the purpose of buying assorted grains for distribution during Christmas.
“Did you buy any grain?”, the prosecution counsel asked.
“No Sir”, he responded
Justice Oriji thereafter adjourned the matter to July 14, 2026, for continuation of trial.
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ADC Urges Members To Remain Calm, Says “Appeal Court Judgment Does Not Affect Primaries”
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said the Court of Appeal judgment on its ward, local government and state congresses has no effect on the direct primaries through which its candidates emerged for the 2027 elections.
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In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the ruling as legally unsustainable, confirmed it has commenced an appeal to the Supreme Court, and said the dissenting judgment better reflects the law and its position. ADC urged members and supporters to remain calm, insisting it remains committed to providing Nigerians with a credible alternative in line with the Constitution and the rule of law.
The full statement read:
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) notes the judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday in a matter relating to party congresses for the election of ward, local government and state executive committees of the Party.
We wish to assure members of the Party and the general public that this judgment has no effect whatsoever on the direct primaries through which the Party’s candidates have emerged at all levels.
The Party has already commenced the process of appealing the judgment, which we respectfully disagree with and consider to be legally unsustainable.
We also note the dissenting judgment of the presiding Justice, which, in our view, more accurately reflects the settled position of the law and the Party’s position.
We urge all Party members and the millions of our supporters to remain calm, confident and focused.
ADC
The African Democratic Congress remains committed to the task of providing Nigerians with a credible alternative and will continue to pursue that mission in accordance with the Constitution and the rule of law.
Signed:
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi
National Publicity Secretary
African Democratic Congress (ADC)
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